"Physician heal yourself"
Yes, that means you.

  "If you have health you have hope you have everything."
     - African Proverb
  "Health is more important than wealth."

    We begin with the observation, not on self-care, but on health care workers which speaks clearly and forthrightly on the need for and importance of self-care health, i.e., for people to take care of themselves rather than have others to take care of them.
    In America there are 22 million people employed in Health Care, 14 percent of all U.S. workers, according to the Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey. Think for a moment about how many of these people being taken care of by health workers could have taken care of themselves and enjoyed healthy and happy lives. Add to this list the number  of people during that period who needed  health care workers but could not afford to employ them ... and people who died prematurely because they did not have the service of health care workers.
    The focus here is on self-care. The World Health Organization defines self-care to mean taking all the steps you can take to take care of your physical health and well-being, including personal hygiene, nutrition, managing stressors, and seeking medical care if needed. Self-care means paying attention to one's mental and spiritual health. It is also a part of the treatment for many physical and mental health disorders.
     When I was a teenager, I recall a deacon in  the church I attended with my parents who always included in his prayers, "Thank you God for 'a reasonable portion of health and strength" when he prayed. He was asked by a woman why did he say, "a reasonable portion of health and strength" when he prayed? He replied,. 'Sister you see me, I am able to walk at this age, I feed myself, I took a bath this morning and I have a sound mind. I am able to do these things and much more for myself." This man demonstrates actualization of self-help.
     The aforementioned critique defines and describes the practice of self-care health. How to have and/or do self-care is for another discussion. So suffice, in this regard, that here  I only mention the four major components of self-care which are: diet, exercise, spirituality and community.
     Practicing these things constitute self-care. And when they are embodied in a lifestyle they can keep a person healthy and in some instances restore a person from poor or failing health to good and even optimum health.
     It is true "The most important things in life a person must do for himself." This is especially true regarding one's health.
     Again, be reminded of the wisdom of the African proverb, "If you have health you have hope you have everything." If not everything, you surely have the most important thing.
   The testimonies of numerous wealthy people in poor health are, "Health is more important than wealth." Some of them wishing they could exchange all their wealth for good health.

   Take Care of Yourself
Take care of yourself;
That is the most important thing
that you can do for yourself.
Be your own best friend.
Do not let the desires of your heart,
the dictates of others or default deny
you the good that is rightly yours..

(Refrain)
Take care of yourself, be positive,
follow your heart and enjoy life;
You are precious and the epitome
of beauty.

Take care of yourself,
Nature desires above all else
that you may be in good health...
You rank with angels.
Your body is the Temple of God
and your soul is spirit that connects
you with Him,Who loves you eternally.

Take care of yourself;
At the top of the list is your health
that means more than wealth,
And spiritual health that is
transcendent of heredity and the
environment enables you to do
good, enjoy life and have peace.

(These lyrics, Take Care of Yourself,
are from "My Soul Song" by
Uriah J. Fields, p. 32)

Copyright 2022 by Uriah J. Fields