Med Gold writes about male-female dynamics and the American condition.
#108: Med Gold
New York, NY
What does health, or being healthy, mean to you?
That’s a great question. On the surface, being healthy means “doing that which slows decay and death.” Exercise and proper diet. I imagine someone running on a treadmill while eating a carrot. But merely extending the length of time that you aren’t dead isn’t necessarily good. If you aren’t pursuing the enjoyment of life, there’s no point. Living well matters far more. That’s the difference between merely existing and being alive.
Being healthy means embodying health. This mode of being requires more than just frequently raising your heart rate and not giving yourself diabetes. Health is downstream of your relationship to yourself and how you manage reality.
The concept of “mental health” has been diluted by people who just want 3-day weekends, but it’s a serious matter and goes much deeper than your mental state. What does a “healthy mind” even mean? No negative thoughts? Images of sunrises and cute kittens? A blank slate?
No.