It is said “Health is wealth”. If health is lost, everything is lost. If health is i’ lost, the capacity to work is lost. Inability to work leads to poverty and misery. On the other hand, if we have health we are able to work and this, in turn, adds to our wealth. Therefore good health is one of the basic foundations on which our lives are built.
For the common man, health is merely an absence of sickness and ailments. This view is narrow and one-sided. The term ‘health’ is much more comprehensive. Good health is the state of all-round physical, social and mental well being of a person, which enables him to live and work normally and to resist the negative impact of his environment.
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The merits or the advantages of having good health can hardly be exaggerated. Good health is not only important but is also an essential ingredient for a happy life. A healthy person is able to work and live on his own.
He is not dependent on others. He is in a better position to relax and to enjoy the thrill of life. He is able to enjoy life in its varied forms. On the other hand, an unhealthy person finds it difficult to be happy and joyful. Physical ailments bring in pain, sorrow, bitterness, mental tension and sleepless nights. He survives on others charity. “Bread bought with other’s sweat is never sweet”.
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It is therefore essential that we should try to acquire good health. Good health cannot be bought, it can only be, wrought. Acquisition of good health calls for certain concrete steps. According to many doctors and health specialists three basic factors bring about good health. They are: (a) clean environment, (b) good habits and (c) clean mind.
One of the basic requirements for good health is to live in a clean and healthy environment. Unfortunately, this is becoming almost impossible today. Our entire environment is polluted. The water that we drink is polluted.
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The food that we consume is contaminated. The air that we breathe is full of dirt and poisonous elements. Our cities, towns and rivers have become dumping grounds of wastes and breeding grounds of dangerous microbes. Unless and until this pollution is prevented our chances of acquiring good health may remain a distant dream.
Secondly, good personal habits go a long way in helping to acquire good health. Good habits, such as, getting up early, maintaining personal cleanliness, temperance in eating, doing physical exercises, adequate sleep and rest, etc., are vital elements which help in the acquisition of good health.
Thirdly, the importance of clean mind for the acquisition of good health cannot be undermined. Mind, to a great extent, controls the body. Many doctors say that the mind is so powerful that it can dispel even the most incurable ailments of the body, if it, so desires. Optimistic outlook, serene mentality, joyful spirit, laughter, clean thoughts, etc. have unfathomable impact in bringing about good health.
I perfectly agree with the maxim ‘health is wealth’. Unfortunately, very few care about this ‘wealth’. People spend sleepless days and nights, running after material wealth forgetting that the first step to acquire material wealth is to have good health.