HAPPY NEW YEAR! You’ve probably received several messages at the start of the year wishing you the usual ‘happy and prosperous new year’. Some folks might have wished you success and joy too. But if you look carefully, there’s something else a lot of people have been wishing each other this year: a healthy new year! Maybe it’s the events of the last couple of years that have brought good health right on top of our wish list.

Which is why you should hear about what happened in the commentary box in a recent test match between Australia and the West Indies in Perth. Ricky Ponting was in the commentary box. And as he talked about the action on the field, he felt a sudden, sharp pain in the chest. He started to feel a bit unwell, but since he was on air, he didn’t think too much about it. He stretched his arms, sat up a bit, gently rubbed his chest. The usual stuff we all do when we feel that tinge of discomfort before telling ourselves it’s no big deal.

When he finished his stint in the commentary box and walked back gingerly, he told his fellow commentator and long-time team mate Justin Langer about the chest pain he had felt. Langer quickly swung into action. He got in touch with a doctor on site, who checked Ponting out. Then they made arrangements to rush him to a hospital where Ponting was attended to by a team of specialists. Luckily for Ponting, no major problem was detected. All was well. Ponting was given the all-clear sign. And he was back in the commentary box the next day, ‘all shiny and new’.

You are probably thinking so what was that fuss all about? There was no problem right? Why the over-reaction? Fair questions. But I think there’s a lesson from Ponting we all need to learn. Ponting, who is 47 now, spoke about how people his age don’t easily open up about health issues. We want to maintain the tough guy image. So we dismiss that fleeting pain in the chest. We keep it to ourselves. But Ponting did the right thing. He spoke about his problems. He asked for help.

We should all be like Ponting. Talk about our problems. If you are feeling unwell, say it. If something is bothering you, speak it out. Hiding your problems from the world doesn’t do any good to you – or to anyone else. Be it a health issue, or a relationship challenge, or a problem at work. Talk to a friend. Being vulnerable is a sign of strength. Not a sign of weakness.

And we should be like Langer too. When a friend says he has a problem, do something about it. Don’t just say you should see a doc. Take him to one. Fast. I do think we all need to have a Langer around us. Someone who cares enough to take action to help us. Truth is, there is already a Langer close to each of us. Ready to help. But we aren’t telling him about our problems, our fears, our concerns.

Be like Ponting. If you have a problem, talk about it. Be like Langer too. When someone tells you about a problem, do whatever it takes to help. You will, won’t you?