What is Health? And why blog about it?

Background
In October 2009, I started the master's program in Holistic Health Education (HHE) at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California. I am committed to being proactive about my own health, and I would like to help others be proactive about theirs. The program will prepare me to teach people about wellness, disease prevention and so much more. I look forward to gaining knowledge of holistic health practices, including nutrition and stress management.

What is Health?
As I wrote in my application to JFKU, to me, health is well-being. It is a state when all systems – body, mind and spirit – are functioning fully and well.
Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Health promotion (aka HHE) is not about “pressuring people to change their lifestyle habits but helping them to explore the issues underlying their behavioral struggles.” As health educators, we will be engaged in “creating health... which comes from hope.” (Robison and Carrier, 2004, p. 69)

Why blog?
This blog is a place for me to journal about what I'm learning in class. I am excited to share some “pearls of wisdom” with you, and I look forward to your comments. How do you define health?

Want to learn more?
Visit the American Holistic Health Association, http://ahha.org. Check out the Principles of Holistic Medicine available at http://www.holisticmedicine.org.

References:
WHO (1948). Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June 1946, and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Available from WHO Web site: http://www.who.int/en/

Robison, J., & Carrier, K. (2004). The Spirit and Science of Holistic Health. Bloominton, IN: Authorhouse.