When the electricity went out while I was doing 12.5mph on the treadmill, I escaped smashing my face against the wall only because the control console slammed into my ribs first. I swore as I staggered off the treadmill, clutching my throbbing midsection.

It was the fifth time a power trip had happened in the office building that day. A group of guys kicked a football between the cubicles to pass the time, another group made their way to the canteen to grab an early lunch. Even the ones who usually had eBuddy or Facebook as a clandestine distraction were interrupted. Between trips four and five, I decided to get some cardio done to let off steam.

In those moments of uncertainty, I made an elementary yet vital observation: In our well-oiled society, it appears that power (in this case, in the form of electricity) gives us order. When that power is taken away, chaos (in the form of employees playing hooky) begins to creep in – the very inception of apocalyptic fiction. 

As people, we’ve continued to function in spite of all kinds of externalities: power failure, epidemics, recession and politics. I wondered what would constitute the proverbial straw that would break the camel’s back. What if the power failure had been long drawn and if it had affected the whole country? What scale of chaos would we have to endure?

When I got back to my desk, I still couldn’t turn on the computer, but I spotted some work that had been left for me to proofread. I picked up my red pen and got cracking. Sure, the computer wasn’t working, but it wasn’t its responsibility to do my job. That responsibility was mine. – MIRZA MALIK

The MH Blog is updated every Tuesday. Got something to say to the MH editorial bloggers? E-mail us at magmenshealth@sph.com.sg