Health enables us to enjoy all the other simple pleasures. Too often, it is taken for granted. We may not notice our health until a moment of illness - we miss it only when it is gone. Then we realize the value of being healthy.
I have been fortunate so far in maintaining my health. I am aware of it, and thankful for it more now than ever before. It is not just that I am aging, but that my partner, Linda, is dealing with the repercussions of multiple sclerosis.
Linda is amazing. She is the smartest woman I know. She is also one of the happiest people I know, in spite of her deteriorating health. She is tough, and does not complain. Every day is a gift and adventure, and she will not be stopped in her pursuit of the simple, beautiful life.
If I ever took my health for granted, I don't any more. Simple things have taken on huge meaning, and worrisome things that seemed important have gradually faded away. I am filled with gratitude that both Linda and I are as healthy as we are, and that we ha.
Small things can come out of the blue and change your life forever. An abscessed tooth. A concussion. An MS diagnosis. The results of us not honoring our health have a way of sneaking up on us. It is no wonder - living well is a full time job, and often we feel that we do not have enough time or energy.
Cultivating a low-stress lifestyle can take years. Exercising takes precious time and effort. Cooking with whole foods takes time and effort. There is no easy route to good health, but what else do we have to do that is more important?
Hippocrates said, "A wise person should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by their own thought to derive benefit from their illnesses."
Good health is my most cherished simple pleasure.
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| Wheelchairing in China Beach Provincial Park, BC |
Ganesh,
ReplyDeleteYou and your cousin are obviously healthy, smart people! Thanks for visiting, and sharing your link.