How language may have conspired to keep people unfit

Each time unhealthy habits are under attack, they invoke human culture to fight off the threat

- MANU JOSEPH

One of the unhealthy things people do is the way they speak of themselves. They speak poorly, especially about their physical health. They express a low opinion of their prospects. How they have "aged," when they are still in their 40s or 50s. This view emerges from their false perception of how people at this age should be. Having thus acquired a low standard for themselves, they proceed to view life with a sense of doom. Their unhealthy language also extends to overblown compliments aimed at fit 50-year-olds.

In the past few weeks, a fascinating cricket tournament was underway—not the Champions Trophy, which was alright, but one that featured former cricket players from all over the world, some of them legends, like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. It was disorienting to watch Tendulkar. Not because there was anything wrong with him. He was exquisite, as always. And he ran between the wickets with the same swiftness as before. It was disorienting because of the reaction of audiences and commentators. They behaved as if they were marvelling at a disabled kid who was not expected to do anything.