Health, Wealth, and Wisdom

The meaning of HEALTH, according to Mirriam Webster, is the “condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially : freedom from physical disease or pain.” I personally do not know anyone who is free from disease or pain, nor anyone who can maintain a state of being sound in anything for more than a short time. So is health an illusion then?

In 1947 The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” Another unattainable ideal but this time I must be sound in body as well as mind and, at the same time, be socially adapted. Good luck with that!

Then, in 1984 the WHO adopted the idea that health is not a state of being to be achieved, it is a force or process that aides our lives. The following definition was offered: "[Health is the] extent to which an individual or group is able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment.   Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive concept, emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities."   (Health promotion: a discussion document. Copenhagen, WHO, 1984.)

OK WHO, finally a definition I can get behind. I want to get healthy, not so I will never be sick, grow old, or die, but to be able to pursue the life I want to live and to cultivate the resiliance necessary to thrive in a culture that is very unhealthy.

WEALTH is another term whose definition and meaning seem to be far apart. Google tells me that WEALTH is “an abundance of valuable possessions or money”. But, just like health, wealth is not just a state of having money, it is a “resource for everyday life.” When I say I want to build my wealth, I mean that I want the safety of knowing I can pay my bills and the freedom to pursue my passion and ambition. Of course that means I need to make tha actual money, but what I really want is power and agency in my own life.

Finally, we reach the concept of wisdom. It’s a funny word that escapes the confines of a definition. Much like intelligence, wisdom is less like a checklist of abilities, and more like a “you’ll know it when you see it” kinda vibe. A common SAT synonym for wisdom is SAGACITY, which, according to Wikipedia, is “the ability to contemplate and act productively using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight”.

I like this definition because someday in my future I hope to be a quirky old sage, with long gray braids and a total hippie vibe who dispenses wisdom from beneath the trees or by a fire. Other wisdom definitions include the ability to discern the greater picture and to make connections within and between things. I am a pattern-seer and a systems-maker so I gravitate toward this idea of connections. One of the things I like to do is put together puzzles or make Lego sets (I know, I lead an exciting life). I really enjoy the practice of finding and identifying the right pieces that fit into a larger whole.

Unlike health and wealth, which provide me the ability and means to do the things I want, wisdom is (to me) both the path toward a meaningful life and the object of living itself.