in good health; sound in body and mind

Today I was asked whether I was well.

Not in person of course, but via one of those social networks that are all the rage with the young whipper-snappers these days.

It is an interesting question.

Mainly because of the word.

Well.

It has a good twenty different definitions in the Dictionary.com

I picked the one that is most relevant to the context….

….But even that definition is ambiguous.

Even the first point – “in good health”

One may appear and even feel completely healthy, but actually have some undiagnosed condition.

On the surface though, since I haven’t graced the offices of a medical professional for a decade, I am quite healthy. I eat right (but “not enough” according to the standards), I work out (too much) and sleep until I naturally awaken (also “not enough” by the standards)

The second part of the definition is where we get into problems.

I don’t know that I have ever been of sound mind.

I’ve always been at the eccentric end of the bell curve when it comes to sanity…. hell, I’m always at the end of the bell curve no matter what we are graphing.

To me, sanity is a purely pragmatic concept. By that I mean that sanity is related to how functional one is in society. An example would be a functional alcoholic. To me they don’t have a problem, because it is not effecting their life, or the lives of those around them in any majorly adverse way.

I on the other hand, do not function well in society.

I’ve failed when it comes to getting a job, and my experience and education has painted me into a corner where most jobs are unavailable to me.

I’ve failed when it comes to relationships. I think a sane person has to have at least one romantic relationship (assuming they are “of age”).

To me this would mean I do not function in society;
therefore I am not sane;
therefore I am not of sound mind;
therefore I am not well.

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