What Does It Mean To Be Healthy?
How physical, mental, and social well-being looks different for all of us, and why it matters
Health is a hard one to pin down. I thought I knew what it was before I looked into its origins, and now that I have, I find that it can be elusive. Art is like that too, along with love, fulfillment, music, and happiness. We all know what they mean until we try to put a finger on it. We need our poets.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Defining Health
Interestingly the term “health” derives from the Old English “hælth” or more recently, “hale”, meaning “wholeness, being whole, sound or well.” Hail in turn comes from a really old Indo-European root word, ”kailo” meaning “uninjured or whole.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) expanded on this, and in 1948, said: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
In 1986 the WHO added, “Health is a resource of everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.”
To switch from a historical and global perspective to a more personal view, I wonder what health means to us all as individuals. For instance, how would a molecular chemist describe health? Or an end-stage cancer patient? What would it mean to a destitute and alone adolescent? It would be interesting and touching to absorb all these perspectives. Maybe the definition of health should be personal and always based on the context of our individual lives.
Health as balance, strength, & happiness
I think of health as an idea; a concept that is supposed to be layered and mean many things. To me, health is comfort; it offers ability and vigour. It means being able to do what we like to do through balance, integration, and strength. It’s about safety, happiness, and freedom.
Pursuing your health goals
We founded Tall Tree Health on the principle that good health is worth having and looking after. Our multi-disciplinary team delivers exceptional healthcare, with the aim of helping our clients grow, thrive, and reach their goals. We also have fun along the way.
Read about the services our clinic offers to help you and your family achieve optimum health.
Alisha Weih, Physiotherapist
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