Health Determinants

Twenty Health Determinants for the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) to Use to Study Whole Person Health 

C. Jenny Walbridge, April/May 2022

  1. Possesses a sense of humor 
  2. Smiles; is friendly; is kind; compliments others
  3. Has needed charity or help, and has received it
  4. Engages in creative labor/fun (“Creativity is intelligence having fun,” as Albert Einstein said; “Let the work teach you how to do it,” an Estonian proverb)
  5. Maintains body and mouth health; has good posture, foot strength 
  6. Can improvise in surroundings (lands like a cat, as in Luke 12:11-12, Bible:, Luke in Limericks! by me: “And if you’re in a tricky spot/Then worry what you’ll say do not./For the Holy Ghost/Will tell you the most/Appropriate words.  Cool—a lot!”) 
  7. Eats and/or exchanges energy healthfully
  8. Is humble yet proud of self
  9. Has or had at least one love relationship in life (including to an animal)
  10. Moves body a lot and often
  11. Collaborates with other(s) to help plan Earthly celebration (“If not fun, why done?”)
  12. Has hand or foot print somewhere at least semi-permanently 
  13. Proximity to pollution 
  14. Can, daily, see sky and walk outside
  15. Sees someone with opposite-color eyes regularly: brown vs. blue/green
  16. Has a prize possession that can be carried and held (i. e. photograph/pendant/etc.)
  17. Doesn’t have too many choices to make each day (is not super rich)
  18. As a child, ran around outside, investigated nature, played
  19. Dwells near at least one hand-made, antique item
  20. Receives and gives caring touch

About my intellectual/creative background: I have an anthropology degree (B. S. Loyola University Chicago ’95) and have studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; have lived in Illinois, near Chicago, most of my life.  However, for two years I lived in Oregon and for two months in Hawaii.  I am a writer, in verse and prose, these days, and a craftsperson/artist. Regarding #10, please ask me for information on movement–and anything else; I might have it to share!  I keep files and books on health and culture, including food and women’s issues & etc. 

Also, I have had profound experience with mental healing. My website (alternatefuturesinstitute.com) features 66 paintings of images from my talk therapy of psychological hurt and healing. 

Thank you for your work!!  Now, let’s play!