Health is often overrated

Are you healthy? Do you have a ‘complete’ state of health? Please, be honest… Why the WHO defined ‘health’ as a complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity when, everybody knows, ‘almost’ nobody has?

A ‘complete’ state of ‘complexity’

By following the above definition, and if you are aware of the past text in this blog, you realise that the ‘complete’ state of physical, mental… doesn’t exist. This one, just for being clear.

First, ‘complete’ is an extreme word. You would probably know that nothing is never complete. Let’s do the experiment in-situ. Can you think of something quickly -now- that is ‘complete’? Just anything. Then, ask yourself: Is it really complete? Now, you have your own answer, which you caught from the inside of you.

Second, a complete well-being, mental and social state is rather impossible to reach –it’s the above lines x 3– Maybe two of those can be achieved at the sacrifice of the third one, just when companies want some problem solved Fast, Well done and Cheap. Practically impossible.

So, that’s again the carrot in front of you, a never-ending story, or a tale from the crypt. Elderly Catalan say qui no té un all té una ceba– translated, ‘he who has no garlic has an onion’–summarises all this knowledge just in a few words.

What elderly say regarding this

Normally, it is nice to learn from others, especially when they have been in similar situations in the past. Elderly are pure wells of knowledge, if you can squeeze them. I’ll note down three late adulthood learnings that I had in the past days, within this wave of heat and temperatures above 38ºC in the city of Barcelona:

1. I’m fed up.

2. I don’t give a sh*t.

3. You’re so handsome, boy.

   
   

Of course, my favourite is number 1. That’s because (i) I live in a small flat; (ii) there are reforms next door, (iii) they are blowing up the church in front of me, (iv) half of the city is under construction -looks like a Sid Meier’s computer game-; and (vi) my patience is limited.

But, I agree that mens sana in corpore sano is a good moto to follow, even being quite similar to the one from WHO – and 2000 years older.

THEN, What to do to achieve well-being?

Certainly, I have no clear idea. But, in terms of my own experience, the one that Mediterranean people like me used to do, and given that I’d like to improve people’s quality of life –especially youngsters–, I would say the following:

• Don’t take life too seriously. You only live once, and life runs away pretty quickly!

  
  

• Don’t expect too much from life, people, etc. It’s a hard thing to follow, but you will be happier when really cool things happen.

  
  

• Don’t take anything for granted. Imagine you are used to living in wealth, and from one day to another, there’s a cyberattack from a secret society, or a space attack from some strange visitors. What would you do next?

  
  

In neurobiological terms, that should release your stress enough that at some point, you’ll start to flow and acknowledge what is important for you in life. That means finding out what your real nature is.

My last 3 are:

Stay open-minded

Embrace life-long learning

Start to get to know you

I am not trying to convince you about any idea, just sharing some experience. It worked for me, and that’s why I brought it back here. I can ensure your inner spiritual path – if you choose to go right that way – will remain yours and protected.

I wish you all a pleasant August.