If You Haven’t Got Your Health, You Haven’t Got Anything

“If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.” 

- Count Rugen, The Princess Bride

We all know our health is important. But only when our health is taken away from us do we truly understand that our health…well, it’s everything. 

I can still vividly remember the long, agonizing days and nights I spent dealing with a massive Ulcerative Colitis flare in 2010. My health had been taken from me in a very short period of time, leaving me beaten down, broken, and increasingly desperate. I would have given most anything to live some semblance of a normal life again.

It’s so fascinating to me now when I recall the things that I daydreamed about during those brutal months versus the things that I was not longing for. What I was not longing for were the things one might think you would wish for during a time like that—being on an island drinking mai tais, going out to parties, or a concert, or other exciting events or experiences. Those things never even entered my mind.

What I wished for with all my heart was that I could get back to the simplest of things—having enough energy to be able sit and play with my young child, having the stamina to be able to go out and run errands, being able to stand up and cook a meal and then enjoy it together with my family. I even remember wishing I could do laundry. 

The everyday stuff. The mundane. The things we take for granted or even see as nuisances. That’s what I was longing for.

All I wanted in this world was just to get back to the most basic form of actually being alive.  

What that period of my life taught me is this—when we don’t have our health, we can’t live our lives, and thus we’ve lost the things that make us feel alive, no matter the perceived insignificance of those things.  

When we don’t have our health we don’t have the big things or the small things that we take for granted when we are healthy. We don’t have anything. And we miss it all so deeply that it literally hurts.

Over a long healing process those simple dreams eventually came true, and though life wasn’t perfect, the little things as well as the big things felt better and different in a wonderful way.  

The first time I was able to walk to the grocery store again, I literally cried tears of joy. I must have been quite a sight for the other shoppers that day, standing there in the produce section with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face.  

The awakening of that moment of gratitude has stayed with me to this day.  I still LOVE to walk to the grocery store, and every time I do it, I feel grateful that I have a healed body that can get me there with ease.

Nothing helps us find appreciation for the simplest of things like losing the ability to do them.  You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. 

On the contrary, when we're given a second chance at life, that’s when life becomes more beautiful. The sky looks bluer. Art touches us more deeply. Loved ones become more loved.  We begin to learn what it means to no longer ignore the little voice inside of us that says, “Hey, as far as you know, you’ve only got this one life, so don’t miss out on a moment of it.”

I had my wake up call, and many years later, I’m still learning what it has to teach me. The great news is you certainly don’t have to wait for a wake up call in order to deeply examine and make changes in your life right now.  

You don’t have to go through something terrible in order to appreciate life more. You don’t have to find yourself bedridden to find joy and meaning in doing the simple things. And you certainly don’t have to wait for a major health event or diagnosis to start making your health an absolute priority.

You just have to make the decision to start shifting your perspective.  

No matter what we do, we can’t guarantee that we will live a long, healthy, and happy life, but what we can do is everything in our power to stack the odds in our favor.

What needs to change in your life so that you can be healthier, happier, and more at peace?  Meditate on this question, and then let’s do something about it!

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‍Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The author is a certified nutrition coach, not a medical doctor. If you have health concerns, consult a qualified healthcare provider.