“Good health is a crown on the well person's head that only the ill person can see.” - Robin Sharma
I just got out of one of the worst weeks in my life. You know, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't anything life-threatening, but it was a stark reminder of how fragile our health is. A nasty stomach bug pinned me down, making it impossible to eat or sleep comfortably. At times, it felt like I'd downed a vat of acid.
But here I am now, on the mend, and feeling a lot better. And this entire experience has brought me a new level of appreciation for the state of just... being healthy. You know how they say health is a crown that only the sick can see on the healthy? I've come to realize there's more truth in this saying than we give credit for. When you're not battling an illness, you feel amazing, but we rarely notice that.
It's become abundantly clear to me how much we tend to take our health, especially our youthful health, for granted. What a blessing it is to feel great on any given day. Those moments when you're just feeling good, they're priceless. Our time on Earth is short, so any moment you feel great shouldn't be dismissed as 'just another day.' No, it's a day of fantastic health, and we should treat it as such.
There are so many people in the world suffering from major injuries, chronic pain, or constant psychological torment. These individuals may never be able to get into a creative flow state, as they're always in pain or distress. This understanding makes me feel so much gratitude for the good health I've been gifted with.
Every limb on our bodies, the ability to enjoy a meal, to walk, to think clearly - these are all things we should never take for granted. If any part of your body gets impaired, that's when you realize how good you had it when everything was functioning optimally. So, take care of your body, your mind, and stay safe. Your body is truly a temple.
Nowadays, even the world's wealthiest people understand that the greatest wealth is health - not just physical, but mental and spiritual too. If you're a billionaire, but you're miserable or battling a debilitating disease, how much of that wealth would you be willing to trade for a healthy, but financially poorer, body? I'm certain that for many, the answer would be 'nearly everything.'
Consider this, how much would a 70-year-old give to get back into a 50-year-old body? It's priceless.
So, while we're young (and also when we’re not so young), let's appreciate and take advantage of our healthy minds and bodies, for they are truly a treasure we shouldn't underestimate.