While scrolling through Instagram, I came across a post by former Crossfit athlete Julie Foucher. The image she posted depicted a sign, likely from the outside of a restaurant or market, that stated “Health is not simply the absence of sickness.” Naturally this got me thinking…what is health?
The word health is defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit.” In other words, having the absence of injury or illness. But is health just the absence of sickness? Can it be so simply defined as the lack of disease? In my time working as a Crossfit Coach I have learned that health means something different to everyone. From one athlete to the next, the concept is represented and defined uniquely. For the majority, health means living a balanced lifestyle consisting of exercising regularly, eating well, and spending time with loved ones. Our athletes do not view themselves as healthy simply because they are not sick, but rather because they fuel their bodies properly, have the ability to play with their kids, and are capable of tackling anything that life may throw at them.
The point of this post? We each represent our notions of health in different ways, but we cannot simply limit the meaning of the word as the absence of illness. How we live, behave, eat, sleep, ALL of it is a part of our health and well being.
What does health mean to you?
Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/BR0zDrVjMM4/?taken-by=juliefoucher