Health
The question of being healthy, or not, preoccupies our thinking. Numerous books and articles
have addressed this subject and countless investigators have contributed to the concept of the
quality of health. If we aren't sick, are we healthy? What about diseases that are genetic or
conditions like diabetes? Defining what is good or bad health has become complicated.
Health, as elucidated by popular definition, is the general well being of a person's mind, body,
and spirit. Health does not only pertain to a marathon runner or to a dietician, although having a
fit and trim body is surely one aspect of health. There are other things, however, like having a
healthy mind or a feeling of high self-esteem that are equally important when people talk about
their health.
Another way to be healthy is to prevent disease. The future of disease prevention lies less in
the hands of the drug companies and more in the hands of our nutritionists, our therapists, and
ourselves. Americans are much too quick to swallow a pill to lose thirty pounds or to enlarge their
penises or to make the "blues" go away, and because of this, we have all become less and less pro-active
about our well being. To prevent disease, every American needs to become educated about their poor
nutrition choices and the havoc these types of food items are placing on their body. Is five minutes
with a junior bacon cheeseburger really worth your family's pain when you undergo quadruple bypass
surgery? It is better to spend an extra thirty minutes walking the dog; your arteries will appreciate it.
And those endorphins from your walk will brighten your day making you less prone to eat sugar-laden foods.
Once Americans learn to control their portions, and their emotions, we will all live in a much more disease
free and happy America. (Not that health only pertains to America, but we are the worst offenders.)
As for mental health, Americans need to loosen up a bit. Everyone should spend a weekend on Bourbon
Street to see that life really isn't all that bad. Everyone is so serious about everything all the time.
Drinking, drugs, sex, gambling, food... too much and it is an addiction, too little and you are "sheltered".
Excessive stress, honking, bills; our lives are so cluttered with due dates, deadlines, and problems
that most people feel overcome; they cannot even enjoy the simplest things. Take time to remember yourself
and your mind. Treat your mind to a break every now and then and think of how much better life would be
without all that junk weighing it down.