Garth Rattray | Jamaica needs strong citizens

My father, of blessed memory, took great interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding in his youthful days. He was fascinated with developing his muscles and becoming strong. He did very well at weight training and held several records and titles because of it. As far back as I can remember, I grew up seeing weightlifting equipment in our backyard. By the time that I was born, he had stopped competitive weightlifting, but remained very strong. His physical strength in lifting weights was impressive; however, his real strength was in the discipline and hard work that he put in to lift himself, and his entire family out of poverty.

Physical strength used to impress me. I purchased strength and fitness magazines and watched weightlifting and bodybuilding events whenever I could. At several times in my life, I was a ‘gym rat’. It was like being possessed by an irresistible urge to pump iron. It was fun, and very rewarding.

However, as I grew older, and after more than four decades of interacting with all sorts of patients, I have come to realise that true strength does not lie in one’s physical abilities. Our elite athletes and world beaters know that in order to win medals, they must possess both physical and mental strength. The most genetically gifted athletes will never excel without training their bodies and their minds.

Sports psychologists and psychiatrists will tell you that it takes a significant amount of mental fortitude (strength) to become an elite athlete. One of my favourite phrases is from Mike Tyson who quoted his caretaker, trainer, and mentor, Constantine ‘Cus’ D’Amato, who said, “Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it”. It takes inner strength to be disciplined.

TRYING TO KEEP PATIENTS FIT

Being a physician involves trying to keep patients fit and well, and intervening when things go wrong. However, we are also supposed to inform, coach, guide, encourage and [psychologically] strengthen our patients in times of trouble. Good doctors can’t help but be empathetic; they suffer vicariously when their patients suffer.

The paradox of the practice of medicine is this, although doctors (physicians) are supposed to teach and care for patients, doctors also learn a lot from their patients. Throughout my career in medicine, I have learnt what it means to be strong from many patients. I have listened in awe as patients related their suffering, and the strength that it required to go through horrible health crises, through “the valley of the shadow of death”. Many people are unbelievably remarkable in dealing with serious and even terminal illnesses. Consequently, although patients draw strength from us, we also draw strength from them.

Therefore, I have observed several forms of true strength. Physical strength pales when compared to inner strength, and the strength to survive the stress of years of patient care and the strength that patients demonstrate through their suffering. True strength lies within us. People are subjected to different challenges like – poverty, unmanageable bills, physical or emotional pain, work or home stress, loss of some sort, or temptation to engage in immoral/unethical or outright criminal activities. Inner strength allows us to prevail over those conditions.

REQUIRES STRENGTH

It requires strength to do the right things, even when you know that no one is watching, and that you won’t get caught. There is strength in walking away from romantic disappointment; in walking away from provocation, goading and the lure of retaliation. There is strength in avoiding promiscuity, and in standing up to your responsibilities as a real parent.

There is no strength in shooting someone; even babies can pull triggers. It does not take strength to order the death of another human being; in fact, it demonstrates weakness. There is no strength in physically assaulting/abusing weaker individuals, or helpless victims … that’s what cowards do. There is no strength in scamming the unsuspecting out of their retirement fund. There is no strength in being corrupt, committing fraud or becoming any kind of criminal. True strength lies in overcoming the temptations and triumphing the vicissitudes of life without hurting anyone. True strength lies is helping our brothers and sisters.

Jamaica has been in crisis mode for many years. There is a crisis of leadership at many levels. There are also crises of decency, discipline, morality, honesty, fairness, efficiency, corruption, crime, murders, aggression, and poor parenting. Our country needs leaders strong enough to stand up and do what is right by our citizens, no matter the political fallout.

Currently, our country is overrun by weak individuals. When drivers are tempted to break the law and turn on the red, or go through stop signs or red lights, or overtake illegally because they are in some sort of hurry, or bully other road users to get their way … they are telling the world that they are weak individuals incapable of exercising self-discipline and care for other road users.

When an individual chooses violence to solve a problem, no matter how small it is, they fight, beat up, stab, slash, or shoot the cause of their vexation. There is no greater shame or show of weakness than when violence is brought into play. When people know of corruption but keep silent, although it is destroying our little island, that is the epitome of weakness. We must be strong for our island home, or else …

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.