A Quick Note About My Definition of Health

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Part of becoming healthy is understanding that the we have been conditioned for a very long time (perhaps our whole lives!) by stereotypes and other people's definitions of wellness and beauty. I am convinced that no health goal - whether it is losing weight, clearing skin, overcoming disease, whatever - is attainable without a fundamental shift in perspective and a "coming to peace" attitude about what health means for you and you alone.

This is no easy thing, however. It takes a TON of mental practice, and a rewiring of the way we dialogue with ourselves. We will fail, often; but as long as the number of times we press on and try again outnumber those fails, we will make progress.

To make matters more difficult, as we age, our bodies and our perspectives change. Just as soon as we think we have overcome our big noses or small chests, ta da! A gray hair! Crows feet! Body parts that seem to be giving over to gravity! The health path is exactly that: a path. It is not one goal, it is not a place where we can arrive, throw our feet up and drink endless margaritas. Oh no - our path intends to take us for a trip until our very last day.

It is absolutely essential, then, to listen to your inner voice. Because what happens when you don't? Little whispers, bells and whistles, some commotion over there, threatening or tempting mirages over here - if you're not centered and paying attention to your path, it is so very easy to derail and become lost.

So tell me: what does Healthy look like to you?

For me, it is mostly mindset. It's about celebrating the present without worrying about the past or future. It's also about having a body with copious energy that is capable of the movement I wish to do - not as a "human doing", but a "human being": playing with my daughter, enjoying projects around my house, gardening, hiking, biking and cooking.

And no matter how many times I look at the jeans in my drawer that I accidentally bought a bit too small, and wish that I was small enough to fit in them comfortably, I try to remember: these jeans are not your definition of health and have no business accompanying you on your path. Make time for the things that aid your journey, always.