Jan 09, 2026
Jan 09, 2026
As we go through the challenges and complexities of life we quite often get caught up in the quagmire of tasks, duties and deadlines… Our life becomes a race of sorts, where it seems to be an eternal and endless balancing act between building a sustainable career, creating a congenial and harmonious home, providing for and ensuring the children imbibe values…when we stabilize in our own careers, we start worrying about our kids education…their growth…their careers and their lives….
While we are caught up in the seemingly endless race without a pause, we quite often overlook the magic in the mundane because it feels routine and sometimes boring too…that’s where we have an opportunity to reimagine to be innovative…Yes innovation is not about big inventions, its about small, meaningful shifts in how we see and use what we already have…
Let me share a personal experience. I had been practicing physical fitness and exercise all my life… But the only problem is that I was consistently inconsistent…that’s because for years, exercise was something that I filed under “should do” but never under “want to do” or “Must do”. It felt like a chore, a sweaty, time-consuming obligation…. I used every excuse possible – too tired, too busy, did not have enough sleep, need to travel next week, will start after I get back…
The rat race for a life and livelihood took precedence over diet and exercise which seemed mundane and boring…
Along with the increasing numbers on the weighing scale, I was faced with increasing health issues as well…. With morbid obesity, came Hypertension, High Cholesterol, diabetes, fatty liver and the works…
People told me, “Exercise is the magical solution to all these health problems”. I started diligently working out, in the process my knees started to get affected. But I was not to give up. I kept at it relentlessly, until my hips began to pain as well… then came a stage where it seemed impossible to exercise…
My spirits sagged and I started feeling down and depressed…I found refuge in eating. Eating for solace…binge eating…and my blood test number started to soar again…
I seemed to be slipping deeper and deeper into the abyss of failing health…almost to a point of no return..
But the final straw that broke the camel’s back, was when I had to undergo surgery for Total Knee Replacement…
The rehab program was excruciatingly painful which I endured with hope…it was like a new lease of life…The Knee surgery forced me to stay away from work and focus on my body…I hit the “Pause Button” on the rat race…I pondered on the futility of pushing myself. I realized that I must adopt a more pragmatic approach…I started to reimagine my life…I took control…I focused on a balanced diet and said “No” to binge eating…I stopped thinking of exercise as punishment and started seeing it as a gift…
That one shift changed everything….
I stopped focusing on how long I walked or how much I could lift. Instead, I celebrated the fact that I could move…I started small just ten minutes walking… the more I saw exercise as part of my life, not outside of it, the more consistent I became…
Slowly something ordinary became something extraordinary. My energy improved, my sleep improved, my mind became clearer and more positive. I started to look forward to the rhythm of my movement and not the results…
Over time….I could reverse my diabetes, the blood tests started becoming normal…I felt more rejuvenated and felt like a new being in the old body…
It is like the power of compounding… like making small yet consistent savings throughout our lives which will transform in to a lifetime of financial security…
Yes, Reimagining exercise wasn’t about joining the gym. It was about changing the lens through which I saw it…I stopped waiting for motivation and built a routine around joy and simplicity.
Today, at the age of 61, exercise isn’t a box that I tick, it is a quiet celebration of what my body can do and that to me, is the true power of reimagining the ordinary….
“Reimagine the ordinary”… is a call to see the world with a fresh pair of eyes…to find something extraordinary in the mundane….
Yes friends, start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and soon you will find yourself doing what once seemed impossible….
22-Nov-2025
More by : Suresh Kalathil
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The rat race close our eyes to the magic of the current mundane....hi I wish we could realise this earlier in life. Thank you Suresh for highlighting that even though we get lost in our daily routines we can still find ourselves. I'm grateful for the lessons you share. Samkelisiwe |
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Such personal experiences, explained in such an honest and nice manner can bring about changes in lives. Keep writing as much as you can. You have great talent and probably, the best is yet to come. Fortunately, I am not on same side, but makes me grateful to many, especially my friend David.K.C who introduced concepts of naturopathy to me at an early age of 23. |
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Suresh, your message truly resonated with me. Though I haven’t undergone surgery of my knee or anything of that sort, I have carried the weight of obesity with me for years. What once felt like a burden has now become a necessary discipline, and experience has indeed been a profound teacher. Thank you for sharing such a splendid and thoughtful note. |
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Brother Suresh, I have seen you during those days and now looking at you (although only in pictures), I feel extremely proud and happy for you. You are inspiring in more than one way to many including me. Thanks for sharing this article. I am sure it will motivate many people to find hope in similar challenging situations. I wish you a great life with good health and happiness always my brother. |
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Sir your article is truly relatable and shows how the challenges of life and the constant rat race slowly take away our health without us even noticing. We push ourselves, struggle, and then finally join the gym to recover—only to discover that life still takes a different turn and teaches us new lessons. I loved how you mentioned that real change begins not in the gym, but in the way we reimagine our everyday habits. It’s a beautiful reminder to pause & find meaning in ordinary |
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Very well expressed Sir. Your own story is really inspiring for others who sometimes procrastinate necessary things. Reimagine the ordinary is an encouraging message for all to shift focus from should do to must do. Occasionally we neglect our health and focus on other priorities. Your story will motivate people to take sincere steps to achieve their goals and always stay focused. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. |
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I truly enjoyed reading your article. It is rich with lessons, gentle reminders, and practical wisdom that speaks to everyday life. Changing our habits is not easy, but it is essential. Even small, consistent changes can lead to meaningful results and help us rebuild our discipline and values. Your message resonated deeply with me. Since 2008, I have lived with high blood pressure. At the time, I was unaware of how serious and manageable this condition could be. I made a simple exercise. |
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Dear Suresh, I just wanted to tell you how incredibly proud I am of you. Seeing how committed you've been to your exercise routine is so inspiring. The weight loss is noticeable, but more importantly, you seem genuinely healthier and happier. You have truly transformed yoursef. I know losing a lot of weight and maintaining an exercise habit takes massive discipline, and you've done it. You look amazing, and it is a huge accomplishment. Seriously well done, my friend. |