Most people like to offer reassurance to those who are going through difficult times, by saying things like: “Well, as long as you’re healthy, then that’s all that matters.” To be perfectly honest, I have never been too fond of that saying.

For one, simply because a person appears to be healthy on the outside, does not mean that they indeed actually are. That individual could have a hidden ailment that he is keeping private, he could have a condition that perhaps he himself does not even know about yet, or perhaps he may even have an illness that is not physical in nature—a mental, emotional, or even spiritual ailment. To assume that a person is healthy, simply because that person appears to you to be healthy on the outside, seems to me to be rather inconsiderate and condescending.

Secondly, to say “Well, as long as you’re healthy, that’s all that matters…” to me implies that if you aren’t healthy, then you aren’t all right, and that you shouldn’t be happy. In truth, I am not a fan of that interpretation either. There are countless people who are not physically healthy, but yet are quite happy with themselves and the lives they are living. Some of the happiest people in the world are those whom one might look at and think would have every reason not to be happy. Simply because they are handicapped, or struggling with an illness, or battling against a life-threatening disease... does not mean that such people should forfeit their right to be happy. And kudos to those who take that approach to life.

Finally, and perhaps the main reason why I have grown to dislike the saying… “Well, as long as you’re healthy, then that’s all that matters…” is because I do not agree with it. As some of you may know, I have had my share of health problems during this past year. While I do not measure my burdens to be any bigger than anyone else’s, nor do I consider my situation to be any more or less important than anyone else’s struggle, I want to take this opportunity to stress what I feel is a very important point: Being healthy is not all that matters. Being happy in life, having a purpose in this world, working to fulfill that purpose, and enjoying the peace of mind that comes with making a valuable contribution to something far greater than yourself… at least in my opinion, is all that really matters.

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Over the past several years, I have cringed every time I’ve heard someone say the words… “Well, as long as you’re healthy, then that’s all that matters.” Following that immediate cringe, I have always thought to myself, “No, health isn’t all that matters… BEING HAPPY, and CONTRIBUTING SOMETHING OF VALUE is.

And so, while it is nice to be perfectly healthy, the truth is that most of us are not. While it is wonderful to have a stress-free and perfect life, the truth is that none of us does. To assume that another individual has no burdens to bear—whether they are internal, external, or eternal—physical, mental, or spiritual—does not make much sense. To assume that another person should or shouldn’t be happy, simply because you think they should or should not be, makes even less sense.

So to those of you who might say: “Well, as long as you are healthy, then that’s all that matters;” I would say to you that it is not, in fact, all that matters. Instead, allow me to offer you the following declaration: As long as you are HAPPY and CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY… then that is all that matters.

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If you are healthy, that is great; more blessings to you. If you are not healthy, then do not despair. Take heart, hold your head up, and do not let anyone or anything prevent you from being happy and from contributing something meaningful to this world.