Health – 1. a: the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit. b: the general condition of the body. 2. a: a condition in which someone or something is thriving or doing well: well-being. b: general condition or state.

A few years ago health was my Word of the Year.

Exhaustion

I am thinking about health because I am exhausted. I am exhausted from the emotional toll it has taken to live through the last few years. I am exhausted from the sadness, grief, and anxiety in the air. I am exhausted as someone who gives a damn. I am exhausted because the sea is so big and my boat is so small. From health, exhaustion decreases and I remember to breathe. From health, exhaustion is part of a natural flow of falling apart and coming back together rather than a permanent state of anger or paralysis. From health, gratitude gently hugs exhaustion and lets it rest.

Age

I am now well into my fifties. Being in my 50s gives me a reason to think about health. “Zero” birthdays – 30, 40, 50 … – always give me pause. As a result of living with Turner syndrome, I do a better-than-average job keeping track of my health. The older I get, the more I think about quality of life. I never got the opportunity to feel physically invincible like most young people. As time marches on, my health is even more fragile and in need of care. I will have more years to enjoy if my health comes first.

 The Foundation

Good health is the foundation on which we thrive. Health is sound choices in a random world. Health is self-care. Health is caring for the body, mind, and spirit. Health is connecting with ourselves, others, and our natural world.