Life, Death, and Health

Sometimes, it's not so easy to distinguish that line between life and death. Modern technology has blurred the boundaries with terms such as "brain dead" or "artificial respiration." Can a person who depends on artificial respiration be *truly* alive? Or dead for that matter?

I have always found it interesting when people state their cholesterol, blood pressure, red blood cell count, vision stats, etc. as a measure of their health. I've never worried about this so much; life is far too subjective for that. Of course, who would you think is "healthier"? The person who spends 2 hours in the gym, carefully weighs her food portions, deprives herself of a scoop of ice cream because it will "make you fat," spouts the idea that "carbs are bad!" but then secretly binges on a batch of brownies because she craves a treat so badly? Or what about the self-assured
person who will take pleasure in all of her activities, including eating, practices activities she enjoys, is not afraid of taking dessert, and is passionate about gardening, painting, and fluffy puppies?

Let us not measure life by standards that others have established for us. Living "healthily" does not mean following every new diet some "doctor" has approved. It does not mean going to the gym for 20 hours a week, unless, of course, you ENJOY it. Living means loving those you care for, and letting them know it. When you are on your deathbed, what do you want to be proud of? How accurately you could count the calories in your bowl of Cheerios? Or how many friendships you have developed, and how many languages, experiences, new places you discovered?

Balance is the key, my friends. And immunity to fads. Life is far too precious to waste on small-mindedness. We all are capable of accomplishing so much. Live, live, live. So when you must approach that line between life and death, you can be proud of what you have achieved.