If you feel under the weather ...

If you're down and out, or feel under the weather, you have three quick options:

* See your family doctor;

** He may recommend that you read some jokes;

***Or he may recommend that you visit desiderata2000; just jesting, and partially correct, as my Blog features substantial, hopefully also substantive, Poetry: the real counsel is that you Read some poetry!

Number 1 option means you lose a few dollars (USD1 = RM3.8) more, immediately.

Number 2 means you are acting on Dr Michael Miller's advice that 15-minute doses of Laughter a day is equivalent to 15-30 minutes of exercise at the gym.

Number 3 is my advice riding on two local doctors' -- as The Star April 7, 2005 reported in its Metro page 27 headed Poems help sick recover, say docs.

"Reading poems is another way to help patients when they are ill, especially when it comes to controlling their emotions and feelings," said Prof Dr Hashim Yaacob, the Vice-cahncellor of Universiti Malaya when he presented 1,000 copies of Semoga Cepat Sembuh to UM Medical Centre director Dr Mohd Amin Jamaluddin recently. He said that he felt that reading books (of poetry) is really as effective as taking medicine.

Dr Amin expressed the hope that the book, written by staff nurse Aminah Mokhtar, would serve as additional therapy that will help reduce what ails the patients.

Aminah's anthology of 41 poems depicts the medical staff roles, and how they affect the patients. "I write with my heart and soul. I hope my poetry will be read and felt by all," said the 46-year-old nurse from Muar, Johor.

PS from desiderata: The book is available from the author at RM13 each, costing less than one visit to the family doctor, I'm sure.

I don't have Aminah's contact address or number for potential buyers; maybe try The Star Metro Section!

For more on Option 2 referred above, visit http://yancorner.blogspot.com for her Post on March 15, 2005 where Dr Miller said he would recommend a daily dose of laughter to his patients as research findings showed that while stress could raise blood pressure, laughter generated by reading about jokes, or maybe light bantering among friends, or even watching the idiot box featuring Charlie Chaplin can be good for your health, and quicken a patient's recovery.