By MILAN K SINHA
Who doesn't wish to live well? And the first step is, no doubt what Seneca says, 'To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.' What next? Or only wishing will do? To quote a famous saying here is not impertinent, "If wishes were horses, everybody would ride it."
"Just because you're not sick doesn't mean you're healthy." ~Author unknown
Who doesn't wish to live well? And the first step is, no doubt what Seneca says, 'To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.' What next? Or only wishing will do? To quote a famous saying here is not impertinent, "If wishes were horses, everybody would ride it."
Obviously, the next and the most important step is to act and to act well to live well. It is no denying the fact that some of us do take some efforts consistently or inconsistently in this direction but, a large number among us do know, think and contemplate, still fail to act. They set an alarm to get up early, but put the alarm off to continue in bed for more hours, later to repent, may be for hours together, but unfortunately repeat the same routine next day and day after. Just see what Terri Guillemets says, 'When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease.'
Interestingly, however, one thing is common for all of us, exceptions apart, is our not right a notion that absence of illness is the prerequisite to have the feeling of wellness. Literally, wellness may sound to be opposite of illness but it is not so and is conspicuously different. Being creative, enthusiastic and positive towards personal and social life are a few defining characteristics related to this whole issue. WHO statement is worth mentioning here which goes as follows: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Well, let me elaborate it further. Presuming that you too have watched the great Hindi movie, "Anand" directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee where the Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna, the first super star of Hindi films, though suffering from the dreaded disease cancer, yet lives his life very happily as if he enjoys the feeling of wellness every moment.
On the other hand, you might have come across a situation where in the person is physiologically fit and healthy, having all the inputs of comfort and luxury at his command, still not enjoying the wellness feeling.
History vindicates this by telling us numerous real life tales of monarchs, ministers, landlords, top officials etc. not finding the life worth living and finally committing suicide without any plausible and explicable reasons. Why? It is primarily because of a simple but common fact that they don't know what exactly they really want to feel happy and going. Not being empathetic and down to earth in our day to day life adds to the misery.
No doubt, the definition of wellness may vary from person to person; still being a social human being we share some common interests and longings. As such, by having something or not having those may guarantee us a feeling of wellness or absence of it.
Unquestionably, this is a thought provoking as well as a complex emotive issue. Some of us may say that wellness is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. What do you say?
Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.
Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.
Very well written. It makes sense that absense of illness doesn't imply that one is healthy and happy. Being healthy and feeling wellness and happiness are two different things.
ReplyDeleteit is well said that absence of illness guarantee wellness.in my view wellness comes from mind.if people always think that he is not well thn he can be never well.so one should always think that he is ok not only physically but also mentally.and it is old proverb that " precaution is better than cure".so be carefull and always think positive and live in a happy way because life is beautiful so people should enjoy it. sourish banerjee
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