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The Wonderfulness Newsletter | Strength for Women 40+

Health Was Never Supposed to Be the Goal

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Hello Reader!

I spend a lot of time thinking about health. Call it an occupational hazard, but I regularly read exercise and nutrition research, pay attention to my habits, and wonder how you could design affordable, space-saving, fitness equipment that actually looks good (this is my personal holy grail).

And yet there's a question that keeps sneaking into my mind: Is getting healthy actually the goal?

This isn't an argument against taking care of yourself, but for stepping back and asking why. Think of the old question, “Do you live to work—or work to live?” It’s important to remember that health was never supposed to be the destination—it was supposed to help us get somewhere else. So are you living to get healthy—or getting healthy to live a fabulous life?

Health Was Never Supposed to Be the Goal

When people start treating health like a full-time job, their actual lives often suffer. I've caught myself doing it and maybe you have too. It shows up by not joining a friend for an afternoon coffee, because you’re trying to limit caffeine after two. Or your diet has become so rigid it’s no fun going out to a restaurant. You might even become anxious on vacation when you can't hit your usual routine.
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These habits were supposed to create more freedom. Instead, some people end up feeling more constrained than ever. The irony is hard to miss. Because if health is supposed to improve life, then it's worth asking a larger question: What kind of life are we actually trying to build?

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Personally, I don't want to be the healthiest woman in the cemetery. I don’t want to be strong to admire my muscles in the mirror, but so that I have the strength to carry luggage up a flight of stairs while traveling. I don’t want to be flexible so I can show off my splits, but because being able to sit on the floor and get back up again gives me freedom in how I move throughout my day. I don’t want more energy to keep optimizing ad infinitum, but so that I can stay curious, create things, travel, laugh with loved ones, and say yes to opportunities that make life feel bigger.

In other words, I don't want health for the sake of health. I want health in the service of living. I want a body that says yes more often.​
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That's one reason I think strength training matters so much. Strength isn't just a number. It's capability, independence, and having more options available to you. It's being able to participate in your own life. The same should be true of every health practice we adopt. A healthy routine should support living—not replace it.

Which brings me back to the question I've been asking myself lately: What are we getting healthy for, exactly?

If our habits are helping us build a larger, richer, more capable life, they're probably doing exactly what they're supposed to do. But if they're making our world smaller, more anxious, or more restricted, then it may be time to rethink the plan.

P.S. When you're tired of treating health like a full-time job, here are a few ways I can help you:

🟡 New here? Start with my free 8-Minute Wonderfulness Workout—a quick, approachable way to build strength at home.

🟡 Want to make healthy habits stick? Join The Wonderfulness Community, where we turn ideas like these into consistent practice with live workouts, support, and encouragement.

🟡 Prefer personalized guidance? Work with me one-on-one to build a plan that fits your life and your goals. [Just hit reply to this email.]

P.P.S. Here's how you can help me. Hit reply and let me know what’s holding you back so I can build a more useful newsletter and supportive community.

Please share this with a like-minded woman over 40!

 

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The Wonderfulness Newsletter | Strength for Women 40+

Marci Bowman | Build Strength. Stay Capable. Refuse Decline.

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