What does health mean to you?

What does health mean to you?  This is a question I pose to my students as part of their final exam.  I ask this question rather than bring up several multiple choice questions because this one is personal to each and every one of us. 

So what does health mean to you?  Can you answer this question in multiple domains such as physical health, mental or emotional health, and spiritual health? 

My own viewpoint is multifaceted.  I've had varying degrees of influenc
e upon my life which has ultimately changed me, for the better I think.  I'd like to go into my own journey through health and what it means to me. 

Beginning with spiritual health, because in all honesty it's the most important element, I'd like to acknowledge my wife's influence here.  The Lord had influenced her to influence me.  Without her, I am unsure of how my path with Him would be, but what I know is that it wouldn't be where it is and where I believe it to be going.  Growing up Catholic, I don't believe I had a relationship with the Lord in the sense that I should've.  I imagine that I am not the only one, hence the various denominations that are in existence.  Now, I would consider myself Presbyterian, especially since we do belong to the local Presbyterian Church.  One thing that I would like to do to help fill a spiritual void is to undergo mission work at some point in my life.  Until then, the Lord has granted and privileged me with a different mission. 

Next, I'd like to touch on a sensitive subject, which is mental and emotional health.  Much of my life, I would consider myself to be a normal person.  Most of the time I'm even keeled, without any inkling of a disorder underneath.  However, with the knowledge, or should I say wisdom, that I've gained over my life thus far, I realize that I've battled some degree of mental health disorders throughout my life.  When I was young, we moved from New York to Pennsylvania, and when this occurred I spiraled into a depression.  Looking back, it was very strictly depression.  I'd isolate myself into my room and basically avoid any kind of social construct that would've inevitably removed the depression. 

Later, while in the Marine Corps, I had what I would look at now as acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Part of it was the combat experience, and part of it wasn't.  The reason I say acute, rather than your more "traditional" chronic would be that I don't battle this norm
ally.  There are occasions to where I'm more triggered than normal, but in recent times, this is becoming increasingly rare.  Truth be told, without the physical component, I'm not sure if the battle would've been "won."

Physical health, the thing that we most often associate with health above all things.  Generally speaking, our physical health ties into our mental health, and our spiritual health is the glue that holds the whole thing together.  The Marine Corps began my love/hate relationship with exercise.  Without that experience, I doubt I'd be anywhere I am right now.  My physical fitness is tied into my mental/emotional health and my relationship with Jesus ties it all together.  I attest that physical fitness helped for me to be where I am, and that place is much better than I'm sure the alternative would be. 

I consciously acknowledge that my genetics play a role in my decision to exercise and eat generally healthy.  My dad has had heart disease and is a Type II Diabetic, as was my grandfather.  With this knowledge, I don't want to undergo any of those.  So I lift, and I fight.  This helps for me to avoid these potential futures, and it helps my mental health as well. 

So what does health mean to you?  Does this help to guide you to answer this question for yourself?  Try to figure out how these elements of health fit into your life and you'll be all the better for it.  Just remember, your health is yours and yours alone.