RCKGM Golden News - Volume 14

Volume 14 No 31 16th February, 2001

The Weekly Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kowloon Golden Mile

February is World Understanding Month

The official part of the meeting was opened at 1.15 p.m. Once again no choir practice! Rtn Suzy did visiting Rotarians and Rtn Miranda guests of Rotarians. Alas I forgot to pick up copies of this information and therefore will have to include next week.

Great news! From HK$56K last week the funds raised for the Indian earthquake had risen to about HK$85.5K and was still rising, thanks to the concerted efforts of our Indian members.

PP Ram spoke on an email circulated by PDG Dipo for contributions to be sent to Int'l President Frank Devlyn on "Why you joined Rotary".

Acting Sgt at Arms Elissa collected substantial sums of money for the charity boxes.

The Speaker, Susan Mills was then introduced, the subject was .....................

STRESSMANAGEMENT

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaa!

We were first introduced to the basic concepts of adrenalin and "fight or flight" or "run faster to catch or become dinner". This was ok for our predecessors who didn't have to hang out with desks and computers all day but for us more understanding of the mechanisms involved are needed.

Susan gave concrete examples of causes for stress, and the three most common causes for stress. One is leaving insufficient time between appointments. Another is setting goals too high, i.e. rating ourselves either good or bad, fail or pass, instead of breaking them into manageable bits and setting several steps into the goal, which would enable us to appreciate progress. A final one is the little annoying things in our daily lives that grind us down. Big things we will recognize as either a threat or a challenge, and deal with them accordingly, but it's the little things that will wear us down. We tend to ignore the little irritations until too late. We need to look at what minor events irritate us, and then decide what to do about them, and either eliminate the cause or change our attitude. In order to reduce a large rock, one uses diamond dust or similar substance to get great results. The cause of stress is our attitude and our expectation, and we produce chemicals accordingly. So whether we see danger or opportunity depends on our frame of mind - if you love parachuting, jumping out of an aeroplane is a joyful, happy and exciting event. Not so, if you are terrified at the thought. So perception has a lot to do with what is stressful to each individual.

On depression, Sylvia pointed out that progress in our life is like the ocean tide, we only see the waves come and go, but we do not see the tide come in, unless we wait for some time by the beach. Going up and down, does not mean you slide back, but the progress goes in waves, which can be easily mistaken as relapse, when in reality the progress is steady forward, and the distance between up and down moods is gradually getting bigger, and the ups take a bit longer every time, and the downs a bit less. So we have to give ourselves time to heal.

Also mentioned was the build up adrenalin during our daily work, which we do not use up. When we get upset, we cannot just run away, so the toxins accumulate in our system. It is therefore vital to exercise and release the tension in the muscles - to pump out the toxin.

Sylvia then showed us a few exercises which I understand Rotarian Corola is happy to show us again some time. The exercises can be compared to cleaning a wet dirty sponge by squeezing and releasing it. Similarly stress can be released even by just making a tight fist for 30 seconds, then releasing it. All present were invited to try, and it really worked! The same with tense backs and shoulders - imagine if someone has poured ice or really yucky stuff down your back, you will push back your head and pull up the shoulders really tight. If you hold that thought for 30 seconds, and then release it - a miracle release from computer strain will happen! The assembled Rotarians were very co-operative and would have make a good photograph, but I didn't think about it at the time!! Rotarian Carola thanked the speaker after a lively session of questions and every one looked relaxed and unstressed!

Message from Community Service Chairman Rtn Silva

As I reported on the last Wednesday meeting, St. James Settlement invited our club members to attend their family Club's AGM and Chinese dinner. Some members showed their interest and I have advised the person in charge, Ms. Chien, of St. James.

Members who would like to attend , would you please note down the following address , date and time.

436-438, King's Road, North Point

It will be very kind of you if our guests can arrive at about 7:15 pm.

Since I have staff in service training camp for my own agency, I can not promise to catch up the event in that evening. (Editors Note I realise now that Rtn Silva has not confirmed the date. Those going will need to check with him.

Presidential Quotation

"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up but a comedy in long shot."

Editorial Quotations

"The process of getting old is a question of mind over matter: If you don't mind, it doesn't matter"

"Old age is that time of life when you know all the answers but no one asks you the questions"

Joke of the Weak

Adam had been in the Garden of Eden for some time and while he loved the weather, accommodation and the food he found his own company rather boring. At a weekly meeting with God he asked whether there were any plans to liven things up to which God replied that there were prototypes under research for another type of human called "woman" but that there was still much development work to be done and it was not yet possible to put firm date on when production could begin. Adam suggested that for his peace of mind perhaps the research and development could be speeded up to which God pointed out that this would cost an arm and a leg. Adam replied ..........................................

"What could you get for a rib?"