don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

George Carlin claims that “most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” His humor is effective in part because he chooses to look upon events with a certain bemused cynicism and, in doing so, finds it easy to write stuff like “I certainly hope you’re not one of those people who thinks life is real serious and deserves all kinds of deep thought and high purpose. Actually, life is more like a convenience store: you park in the lot, go inside, buy a few items, pay the man and drive home. No mystery there.”

I thought about Carlin’s mindset this week when reading a few items in different newsletters and newspapers. For example, the newsletter PERSONAL BEST contained a list of 18 "smart reasons to go to the hospital emergency room." One of them seemed so smart I thought I should bring it to your attention: UNCONSCIOUSNESS! Next time you're unconscious, try to remember this helpful tip. Be smart -- get yourself to the hospital emergency room.

A few years ago, the Atlanta-based CDC (Centers for Disease Control) changed their name to THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. The director of the agency at that time, William L. Roper, explained that the change was made to "better reflect CDC's role as the nation's prevention agency." Personally, I look forward to the next addition to the agency’s name, perhaps by the Year 2010. I refer, of course, to a new name like THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, PREVENTION AND WELLNESS.

Nearly all informed citizens know and appreciate the need for and meaning of disease control. By adding prevention, recognition was given to the fact that a vast percentage of the American health care expenditures were and continue to be invested in varied kinds of morbidity and mortality that could be avoided with wiser lifestyles. Prevention is good, of course, but it entails a focus on avoiding health-related calamities of one kind or another. There's still room, however, for dramatic improvement to the CDC mission when wellness promotion is added to the mandate and work schedule.

Wellness is a term that connotes a lifestyle that actively seeks enhanced levels of physical and psychological well-being. It involves seeking health beyond the "normal" standard of non-sickness. Such a lifestyle is devoted to exceptional states of health though respect for and pursuit of high standards of fitness, stress management, nutrition, joy in life, purpose and meaning and much more.

A worthy health goal for all Americans, not just the CDC, would be to go another step beyond controlling disease and preventing sickness to that of pursuing wellness.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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