Hiccup

Hiccups happen and are often not welcomed.

We do not know how they come by and why they are here. We just know that it causes unpleasantness. We want to rid of it soonest possible.

Some people say that we eat too fast. We really should be chewing on our food, crushing them to a size that is easily broken down by the gastric juice and enzymes in the digestive system. Somehow, we like to rush on things. Perhaps it is generally because we are so used to the fast life of urbanites that we tend to neglect our health.

Hiccups are here to warn us of our hurried meals. We have a habit to gulp and swallow large chunks of food within a minute because we still have that presentation to complete before the meeting five minutes away. Time does not seem to be on our side. Information is abundant and we do not know which ones are useful. We incline to scrutinize every little detail to the point we do not get enough rest.

Bear in mind that we should slow down a little when we are given the signs. We are humans after all. Even machines need down time, to reset. Why not give ourselves some time off to rejuvenate? Even if our mind is clear, our overworked organs need a well-deserved rest.

All we ought to do is to listen to our body. When hiccup happens, we should sit up straight and breathe in deeply. Hold the breath in for a few seconds before slowly exhaling. Repeat the slow breaths several times and we will find that the hiccup just goes away. It is as easy as that.

When the mind is calm, everything positive will come.

We are living our lives the way we are used to. Everything seems wonderful. Family is great, home is cozy, friends are helpful, and etcetera. Everyone seems to be living the life they enjoy most.

One. Just one small virus and the whole world turns around.

Now, everyone is talking about the new norm. What is the new norm? Is it about wearing masks everywhere we go? Is it about implementing social distancing? This is perhaps the biggest hiccup the world is facing right this moment. It all started with one irresponsible act, or so it seems.

While I may be one of the few to say this out loud, there are many that agree with me. This is the way Mother Nature teaches her children. We have been living in ignorance for centuries. We have been stuck with a mindset so strong that led us to believe that we cannot make any changes to the lives we are born into. We are the working class people.

We strive for good education in great universities. We climb the corporate ladder thinking we are leading a successful life. We control some people that are less crafty than us. We spend our hard earned money on vacation to various countries thinking that we are more superior to those who have never been out of their homes. We treat animals less than how we would to fellow humans.

Perhaps this pandemic is here to teach us a lesson. We are all dwellers on earth. We should live responsibly and sustainably. We share this home with all beings and we are no superior species. We might think that we are the best but there is always someone else better somewhere out there. There is no point comparing between individuals. It is time to put aside all differences and work towards a better future. We may not live to see the results but at least our children benefit from them.

This is a great time to change our old thinking. Everyone can make a difference. Every little action goes a long way. We are individuals that are important in our own way. Nobody else can replace us. We are who we are. When something bad happens, it is always great to just sit back and think forward. There is no point thinking over and over on how it happened. It is worthless to blame.

When hiccup happens, it is time to slow down. Reset, and we are good to go.

 

There’s no such thing as im-POSSIBLE, Hiccup, only im-PROBABLE. The only thing that limits us are the limits to our imagination.

Cressida Cowell, English children’s author, 1966-present