Last week I
read a story about Donald Henderson a U. S. Doctor who led the successful campaign
to wipe out small pox worldwide. He was 87 when he died. He was hailed as a
“giant” in the field of public health. He advised three Presidents. I wondered
how many people read his obituary and how many people knew who he was?
Small pox
was a highly contagious virus. It is the only infectious disease to have ever been eradicated. Smallpox has been recorded in the human population for over 3,000
years. A man who lived to 87 eradicated a virus that managed to live for 3000
years! Amazing! This man definitely proactively aged.
Proactive aging
is a dedication towards something bigger than you. It transcends your aches and
pains, your sadness and your pleasure. The eradication of anything that has the
potential to create harm takes time, patience and dedication. All of those attributes
can only come with time. With time come age and the question, “what are you
doing with your time?” Most of us will never be the “giant” Dr. Henderson was,
but we all have the potential to create a better world.
In yoga there
are the yamas or things we should
abstain from doing. The first yama is
violence. It is said that if we all practiced nonviolence we would not need to
worry about practicing the other yamas.
Violence is a
virus that has existed since the beginning of time. It is the breeding ground
for hatred, greed and bigotry. A virus is something that infects, copies, corrupts
and destroys. Violence is the worse virus of all. Practice nonviolence in your
thoughts, words and deeds.
In 87 years Dr.
Henderson eradicated a virus that managed to live for 3000 years. If you live to be 87 and beyond (and I hope
you do) remember in 87 years you too can help to eradicate something that has been
recorded in the human population for millions of years; violence Simply do your part to help your fellow humans
and to protect the environment. Work to eradicate violence through benevolence
and compassion and although you may never be called a “giant” together we can all make a giant
difference!
Doctor Lynn
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