Smart Inside, Happy Outside
(The Jakarta Post, Minggu 22 Maret 2009)
People spend a lot of time indoors every day. We spend about six hours in the classroom, after which we spend all our time at home - eating, playing, sleeping, and of course, staring at our computer monitors!
When do we take the time to enjoy the outdoors?
Getting out of doors can improve one’s health. The fresh air cleanses our lungs. We can begin to breathe more deeply, which in turn brings more oxygen to our cells. The increased oxygen produces more energy to do the things we need to do. More oxygen also brings greater clarity to the brain!
Thus we need fresh air. But wouldn’t you agree with me that the air around us is polluted? Among other things, it contains chemicals produced by cars, factories, malls, and also from many schools with their air conditioning.
Despite everything, believe it or not, I found fresh air in my school.
I study in a beautiful school - SMPN 103. Other schools may boast of tall buildings. Mine is surrounded by trees, various kinds of flowers, and a fish pond. We even have a coop of white chickens and small birds! The school has been built on the original land, and not on a cemented surface. So that is an aid in anti-flooding too.
We have taken our own steps to reduce global warming. When we are in the classroom, we study with the windows open. During recess, we play outside. Without air conditioning in our school, we let fresh air work its magic on us. We can chit-chat with the animals and plants around us. Now that’s what I call “smart inside, happy outside”. I am proud of my school.
We can freely take a deep breath of fresh air because the air around us is an essential ingredient to all life and our health.
