Points of view

A space to share your feedback. Over to you.

A fit inspiration (Best Letter)
"Nabiha, have you taken your thyroid medi-cine today?" is the state-ment I hear every morning from my parents as I start my day while trying - and struggling - to skip my exercise routine. Your cover story Meet The #FitGals Of Dubai (Feb 19) was like a wake up call.
As I read on about the remarkable women striving for better health and fitness, I was surprised, especially when I got to Hanlie's personal story. The fact that she is 50 years old and has made it this far in her line of work made me realise that age is just a number.
Nadine's moment of motivation, when she stopped feeling sorry for herself, resonated with me. I always used my hereditary thyroid condition - severe hypothyroid-ism - as an excuse for my muscle weakness or lack of metabolism, for not trying new things. But that was before I read about these amazing women. They have given me a reason to get off the couch, not skip my exercise routines, and get fit. Thank you!
Congratulations on your winning entry, Nabiha Alvi! We will BE IN TOUCH with you shortly. 
» Uplifting gals
Mary Angelou once said, "You want me to do something. tell me I can't do it". All the beautiful women featured in Meet The #FitGals Of Dubai (Feb 19), prove her point. It was uplifting to see yet another male bulwark give way to female power. Many of the sport and exercise regimens followed by these women require real grit and determination to be consistent at it, day in and day out. My congratulations to them!
Hinna Hussain beautifully exploded the ?myth on women lifting weights. What was once considered taboo for women has now become a symbol of their empowerment. It's not just the physical fitness that's alluring about exercising, but also the feel good factor and the positivity that comes with it.
Each one of us can choose an exercise regimen that best suits us, and stick to it no matter what. When we feel like quitting, we must remind ourselves why we started in the first place. Like they say, the only bad workout is the one that didn't happen! We live in an era where most of our work can be done by the flick of a switch making our lifestyles increasingly sedentary. ?It's the need of the hour that we get moving and become physically active. I am indeed inspired by these gorgeous ladies to fish out my exercise equipment, dust it off, and put it to good use. - Liji Vinod, by email
» Age is just a number
When we are constantly bombarded with news about the latest anti-ageing treatments and methods, it's no wonder that we become so obsessed with skincare routines (From 20s To 50s: The Art Of Ageing, Feb 19). Some of these skincare methods are based on research and facts, but most of it is just greed - companies trying to sell more products. The unrealistic schedules and late nights out of your youth will ultimately leave dark circles under your eyes and/or pallid skin. As you grow older - and you will - you start to see dryer skin and other signs of ageing.
There is no truer saying than "True beauty comes from within", so accept and cherish your age, whatever it may be. Abandon habits like smoking and drinking; don't lose your temper; walk more in the fresh air; and smile a lot. But, most of all, be in the company of cheerful people. Reconcile yourself to the fact that we all have a shelf life and an expiry date. It is more important to enjoy a good quality of life than to get overly fussed about how we look in the last few chapters of our life. - M Rasheed, by email
» An Iconic persona
The feature on renowned filmmaker Manmohan Desai made for an engaging read (Being Man-mohan Desai, Feb 19). Out of some 20 films that ?he directed in the span of 29 years, 13 were ?stupendous hits. From 1973 to 1981, Desai was extremely successful, delivering hit after hit while keeping moviegoers spellbound.
His films had plenty of identifiable emotions laced into fantasies - which is probably the 'X' that floored his viewers - and his flight of imagination, though at times weird, struck a chord with audiences.
Be it the Rajesh Khanna-starrer Sachaa Jhutha or the other films like Naseeb or Dharam-Veer, his films were a wellspring of hope, aspiration and happiness to multitudes. He is a prime contributor in giving a boost to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's glittering career as well. Manji - as Desai was fondly referred to - has left an indelible mark in the world of celluloid. He may be no more, but the magic of his evergreen movies will continue to entertain film buffs for years to come.
As Bachchan aptly put it, "Manji emitted an infectious energy in his films and as a person, in reel and real life." - Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi