Blog
What Does It Really Mean to Be Well?
By Doris Dahdouh, MSW, LSW, INHC | Histiocytosis Peer Moderator
August has been officially designated as National Wellness Month. Did anyone else know that? I’ll admit it—I didn’t! I only learned this fact about a week ago, and as a Wellness Advocate, I couldn’t let it pass without sharing it—especially with the histio community.
Like many people, I often associated wellness with things like yoga, green juice, and meditation. But when I started digging deeper into what wellness really means, I found something more meaningful—something that resonates far beyond physical health.
One of the most insightful resources I came across was an article titled “Well now, what humans need to flourish” by Jennie Dusheck, published in Stanford Medicine Magazine on August 15, 20161. It explores the challenge of defining wellness and measuring it in ways that help us promote it more intentionally.
“But what does it mean to be well?” Dusheck asks. “If we want to promote wellness for everyone, we have to, first, be able to say exactly what it is and, second, devise rigorous ways of measuring whether it is increasing or decreasing.” In a study referenced in the article, researchers interviewed 50 Santa Clara County residents to better understand what wellness means to everyday people. From those conversations, ten domains of wellness consistently emerged, such as:
- Social connectedness
- Lifestyle behaviors
- Stress and resilience
- Emotional health
- Physical health
- Meaning and purpose
- Sense of self
- Finances
- Spirituality or religiosity
- Exploration and creativity
In the study, the most significant aspect discovered was that “Having a social network was the single largest driver of wellness.”
Close behind were lifestyle behaviors like eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising, as well as the ability to manage stress and build resilience. In fact, many participants shared that even serious illness helped them recognize their strength—which in turn boosted their overall sense of wellness.
So… What Does Wellness Look Like for You?
Wellness is not one-size-fits-all. And it certainly isn’t just green smoothies and daily workouts. For some, wellness is about community. For others, it’s about rest. For many, it’s about boundaries and support. Let’s explore both traditional and nontraditional forms of wellness—because both are valid.
Traditional (Well-Known) Wellness Practices
These are probably the first to come to mind:
- Exercise – walking, yoga, treadmill, or strength training
- Eating nutritious foods – choosing less processed, more whole-food options
- Meditation – deep breathing, mindfulness, visualization
- Prioritizing sleep – aiming for 7–8 hours each night
- Staying hydrated – water is vital for every system in your body
- Stress management – from journaling to taking short mental breaks
Nontraditional (Often Overlooked) Wellness Ideas
These practices reflect emotional boundaries, mental clarity, and inner peace:
- Choosing your battles—or choosing your joy
- Letting go of relationships or situations that no longer serve you
- Taking breaks from routine for rest and reset
- Avoiding mental reruns—stop rehashing stressful conversations in your head
- Practicing forgiveness—for yourself and others (as difficult as that may be)
- Maintaining financial health and nurturing healthy relationships
- Seeking help—through counseling, coaching, mentorship, or community support
Wellness, at its core, is about acknowledging that you matter. Whether you’re a histiocytosis patient, a caregiver, or a supporter, your health—all of it—deserves attention.
Sometimes, the most powerful act of self-care to achieve wellness is to pause. Right now, stop reading for a moment. Take a deep breath. Look up. Appreciate something—anything.
That moment of gratitude? That’s where wellness begins.
- Dusheck, J. (2016, August 15). Well now, What humans need to flourish. Stanford Magazine. Retrieved from https://stanmed.stanford.edu/well-now ↩︎