BY FREDDY MACHA
Seated next to a young boy in the bus-he could have easily been my grandson.
He was crouching, unaware of the “dangerous” posture, totally absorbed -without an awareness of surroundings or space. Yes the back was bent in what the dictionary calls : “convex curvature of the upper -thoracic spine.”
A 12-14 year lad already developing a humped back.
Recent studies reveal back problems affect thirty to 70 percent of children between 10 to 17 years. This is from carrying heavy school bags, bending on school desks and phones. Slouching on phones is the new health hazard. Majority of us are not even aware we are doing it until we develop neck pain, wrist discomfort -even, eye problems.
Ten minutes into the bus journey, the boy shouted : “Oh, Oh Oh…”
He was watching something horrific.
I gently reminded him to adjust the volume of his phone.
It was like I had slapped him.
“Oh sorry!”
Turned it down-continued watching. Continued slouching.
Five minutes later.
“Ohhhh…”
What was wrong?
“I missed my stop!”
Got out fast.
Young people hooked on their phones and missing destinations is common.
Next to “phone stress” is , vaping. Although it is illegal to sell vapes or nicotine products to anyone under- 18 it has become the so called alternative to traditional cigarettes. Vapes have sweet and fruit liquids created to entice young people to “enjoy” and release stress.
According to figures by William Russell – the international life insurance agency- leading cause for stress includes health, money, safety and suicide. Busy cities like Mumbai lead the world index. Nairobi, our neighbour, ranked third in 2023.
First time I heard about “stress” was while playing with the Sayari band in the 1980s. After our gig in Oslo, a Tanzanian family invited us for a meal.
As we chatted – we congratulated them for being overseas. Nice house, car, job, excellent family.
The man refuted in Swahili.
“Life here appears rosy; but it is very stressful. We just long for the day we return to Tanzania. Material comfort is not everything.”
It did not take long to realise life overseas equals non -stop speeding.
I wrote a poem
“Rush !Rush! Rush!
Rush to the bank
Rush to work
Rush for your stress
Stand up and Rush!”
Etc.
Email: mtegowachui@gmail.com
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