If you havent read either of my books on Healthy Thinking, you may not know that on June 3rd 1994, I was asleep in a thatched hut, on the island of Java at a World famous Surfing Resort called Grajagan, the Pipeline of Indonesia. Now resort at the time was probably stretching the imagination as there is malaria, snakes, razor sharp coral and tigers around the jungle camp. While the thatched hut accommodation was basic, the food was amazing and the surf, well it does not get any better.

I was on my second year doing a stint as a Doctor at the camp late May, and was given the famous Hawaiian,Gerry Lopez’s hut (who as legend has it spotted the perfect reeling point break from a plane), right on the point, 20 metres from the high tide mark, looking directly at the world class tubes.

Little did I know that at a few days later about 2am June 3rd an Earthquake in the Java trench was about to send a 20 foot high Tsunami hurtling towards me. While written in my books and not the topic of this blog, the Tsunami smashed through my hut, carrying me several hundred meters into the jungle, killing about 450 people in the surrounding villages.

So when the Boxing day Tsunami hit 10 years later, I knew I had to go and help. We organized a medical relief mission to the Indonesian Island of Nias, just off the coast of Banda Aceh. On return we raised about $8000 for an orphanage on Nias. This was hit and partially destroyed by a subsequent earthquake.

Last week while speaking in Singapore at the Asia professional Speakers summit, a small group of us led by Scott Freidman, visited an orphanage on the Indonesian Island of Batam. As it turns out, about 80% of the 30 orphans are from Nias. One of them is a 14 year old boy. He wants to be a Pilot. Many of these children dont have any documentation, or even birthdays. The orphanage has to choose a birthday for them.

Being a pilot myself, it struck a major chord. Not long ago a friend of mines son was 14 years old. I asked him what he wanted to do. He said he wanted to be an electrician. I said, Dont do that, I think you would make a great Pilot. I took him flying with me then in a helicopter and he was hooked and we flew many missions together around New Zealand. Now at age 27 he has a good chance of being one of the youngest Airbus captains ever and is a co pilot with Virgin Blue.

So when this kid from the orphanage said last Saturday he wanted to be a Pilot, I knew I had to try and help. He is bright, very keen, slightly shy and a nice kid..

That night I went to a big New Zealand ball in Singapore. I was telling a client from Microsoft about the day. She said she knows a Singapore airlines Captain, who may want to help. I was thinking maybe we could just charter a small plane and at least take him flying.

A few days later I chaired a session in Kuala Lumpur and the speaker before my session was Azran Osman Rani, CEO of Air Asia. Of course I immediately approached him and asked for his help. Of course he said yes. You dont get to be CEO of such a large company at a young age of around 32 without being able to make sudden important decisions.

On the flight back to New Zealand, I sat next to an Iraqi man, who happened to be a Pilot for Air Hong Kong, but he lives in New Zealand. I told him this story. He said, but this is IMPOSSIBLE. You cannot go from such a position of having nothing, to being a commercial Pilot, and gave me all the reasons why it would not work. I looked him in the eye and said, I like that word Impossible, it makes me try harder.

About 15 minutes later he leaned across the seat, looked me in the eye and said, you are serious about this is arent you. Of course I said yes, why wouldnt I be? he then said, the CEO of my airline I know, I will ask him if we can possibly help.

Which is my point, unhealthy thinking often stops us from trying, Healthy Thinking helps us have a go, and to try harder.

If you want to help this kid either by helping him fly or financially we are looking to support him through our Charitable trust, the Healthy Thinking Foundation. Email me [email protected] and I will send you a photo and maybe, we can help. How do we know if its impossible unless we try?

It just occurred to me, I dont know his birthday, I dont even know his name. But I do know I want to help. He could do with it.

Being both a doctor and a motivational speaker Swine Flu has affected both businesses in a different way. There has been an increase in requests for Anti Virals like Tamiflu, plus patients with mild symptoms worried about Swine Flu. My family have asked me to do less doctoring and more speaking as they are worried that I will be more exposed and at risk from patients presenting with “the flu” so I am more likely to infect them.

Myself, I went and stocked up on Tamiflu as I am about to head to Asia for a week on a speaking tour. If there is a risk working as a doctor, I am sure there is a risk being at airports. I am due to fly to Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur for a series of lectures and seminars.

However my Hong Kong client sent me an email to say that “DUE TO SWINE FLU, WE ARE CANCELLING ALL MEETINGS INVOLVING 10 PEOPLE OR MORE” As we had alot more people booked to hear me speak, company policy means we had to postpone.

Lucky my travel agent from MONDO Travel, Mike, is a Healthy Thinker. Despite multiple ticket changes, re issues to try and fit in a tight schedule he remains calm and unstressed. Its the nature of the business.

If you think about it, if you didnt like changing things, why would you become a travel agent?? Its all about what we expect in our jobs. Thats another BLOG topic.

So I need some Healthy Thinking myself.

I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HONG KONG. A chance to do 4 gigs, teach alot of people Healthy Thinking and catch up with colleagues.

Not to mention the revenue would have been handy to help pay for the tens of thousands of $$$ we have just spent on our on line Healthy Thinking program!

Crisis = Opportunity.

• It is an opportunity to spend more time in Kuala Lumpur
• Less traveling, more time to prepare for my other gigs
• More time to network at the HR conference in KL
• I could get a huge client in KL
• I could get another gig (speaking engagement)
• The Hong Kong client has only postponed, not cancelled, so another trip to Asia, next one I could take my wife who Loves HK!!
• Next trip I will spend more time in HK. This trip was only 24 hours!

The whole point of Healthy Thinking is that I probably spent about 60 seconds being disappointed. Any more would have been a waste of time. Any more may have put my blood pressure up and altered my immunity. I may have increased my risk of Swine Flu! Not getting sick and not wasting time is a good thing.

Time is not spent on anxiety but on looking for solutions and keeping productivity up!. It is not stressful, opportunities are exciting!

So is Swine Flu real or imagined? The economic aspects are real. Mexico must be feeling it. The reality is that “The Flu” is a deadly disease in its own right. How virulent this one is, time will tell.

Having a Healthy Immune system will help protect you against it.

Being stressed “lowers your immunity”

Hats why Healthy Thinking is so important, not just as a productivity tool, but as a COGNITHERAPEUTIC against disease.

I will keep you posted as I head to Asia!!

If you want to book me for a Speaking engagement (I have a spare day!!), plus a few later in the year, contact Louise Ryburn at Celebrity Speakers, [email protected]

Its a great opportunity!!