`Health is wealth’ is a very common saying. But few people try to understand its meaning. Health is a great blessing for man. It is much better than wealth even. If a person is healthy, he can earn wealth. Also, he can enjoy other blessings of god. But an ailing person cannot enjoy wealth or any other blessing. Disease or ill –health is the biggest curse on this earth. Even weakness is no less than a curse. To be healthy and strong is a great boon. It is perhaps the first essential thing for a good life. Wealth and success follow health while without it, life becomes just a burden.

A person may be intelligent. He may posses’ uncommon powers. But without good health they are just useless. All hopes come to nothing if a person is not healthy.

Life is a constant struggle. Everyone is required to take part in it. So, everybody should possess a sound health.

Only a healthy man can have a sound mind. So, he can be happy, cheerful and energetic.

Several evils result from want of good health. A week person falls easily a prey to disease. Disease deprives a man of his strength and energy. He becomes incapable of doing work. His life becomes miserable even if he is rich. He cannot enjoy good dishes because he cannot digest them. He cannot enjoy a sound sleep. He cannot keep cheerful. His peace of mind is gone.

Good health is useful in another way also. A healthy man can endure difficulties. He can cope with his enemies in a fitting manner. Let us read the story of swami Vivekananda, who has been a great sadhu. He was very careful about his health and so he was very healthy. His body was muscular and strong.

Vivekananda chanced once to travel by train on a long journey. He boarded a first-class compartment where some Englishmen were sitting. They were in rich clothes while Swami was in the robe of a sadhu. The Englishmen did not like his company at all. So, they decided to turn him out of their compartment. But there was no law to that effect. One of the Englishmen asked Vivekananda to get down. But he kept sitting quietly. After some time the train started.

The train was running at top speed. Vivekananda went into the urinal to urinate. One of the Englishmen threw swami luggage out of the running train. He thought that swami must quarrel with him on his return and he would get a chance to complain against him at the next station. Thus they would get rid of his company. But their plan failed. Vivekananda came back and saw his luggage missing. He at once saw through the whole game. But he sat down calm and quiet on his seat. The Englishmen could not do anything except their teeth grinning.

After an hour or so, the Englishmen, who had thrown swami’s luggage out had to go into the urinal. Now it was Vivekananda’s turn. He threw all the luggage of the Englishman out of the running train. When he came back he found his luggage missing. He flew into a rage and showered abuses on Vivekananda who kept sitting quietly. This enraged the Englishman all the more. He decided to try arms with swami. Now Vivekananda got up from his seat and started tucking up his sleeves. His muscular arms and broad chest sent a current of fear in all the Englishmen. They could not dare to touch him. Swami challenged them but their spirits had chilled down. They sat down crouched and ashamed.

Thus you have seen that health is a great boon. A healthy person is a gainer in every respect.

A baby is born healthy. During childhood its health depends on the care of its parents. But as child reaches its ninth or tenth year, it should take care of his or her health. Play, regular exercise, rest, good food, cleanliness, sound sleep and regular work bring good health.