Personal Health
A Jedi needs to be in the best health they are capable, both physical, mentally, and emotional. This doesn’t mean you need to be an Olympian or a be able to run a marathon, but you need to put effort into exercising. A Jedi is not lazy or so out of shape they are unable to help others. This spring I set out to walk 10 miles. I got to 8+ before summer hit and I had to stop. Now I am doing high altitude mountain hiking (or I like to joke high altitude panting). You need to do a few days a week some form of exercise and continue to push yourself. If you are think “Um Karen, I’m like super fat and I never do anything, how am I going to do this?” I would suggest start very very slow, but steady. Just walk until you are tired. The next day walk again until you are tired. Keep that up day after day and eventually you will see progress.
For mental health you need to make sure you are keeping an honest eye on your emotions and thoughts. If you are always angry and thinking I HATE my job, then look at why. Do you hate getting up early in the morning? Do you hate your boss? Do you hate your duties? Or do you hate something about yourself that you are projecting onto your job? Change it if possible. If you are fighting depression then you need to take steps to deal with it: eat very well, get up and exercise, find nature and sunlight, try something new or a change of scenery, or go to a doctor and get help that way. There is NO shame in needing therapy or medication in the Jedi life. You can’t help others if you are down and sick.
Emotional Health is also very important. It’s so important we have a line about it in the Jedi code. If you are going to blow up at everyone, you won’t be of service to anyone. If you are mourning the lost of something, it’s harder to see others needing help to. Mind you that does NOT mean push your emotions away. It means you need to take time to deal with your stuff as well as helping others. It’s also important to face and improve on your emotions. Fear is healthy under certain circumstance like being attacked or fearing for someone’s safety. But it’s not healthy when it controls you from doing things: walking on a bridge, meeting people, speaking in front of a crowd, teaching a new subject to a bunch of Jedi (oh wait that’s mine). You need to face the fear and do the activity. I have now twice walked off a 3ft ledge with a harness and freefalled. One of the scarcest things I’ve done. I left my family and home and traveled across the country to restart my life (best and hardest thing I’ve done) so I become a better, more complete Jedi.
Diet: The Jedi no specific diet other than eat healthy. Because everyone’s body’s needs are different, eat what your doctor recommends and what you notice helps you. We do not forbid any food other than what is not safe or cultural acceptable. Such as eating pets/horses/endangered species/or pork in a Jewish culture, eating beef in a Hindu culture ect. There is no need to offend the locals.
We allow drinking so long as you practice responsible, legal drinking. Don’t drink when it's not allowed, don’t get foolishly drink, and don’t drink to drown out feelings. Otherwise enjoy!
Drugs: prescription is fine as long as you don’t get addicted to them. As Jedi we obey the law so we don’t take illegal drugs. The illegal ones are not only a great risk to your life, they hender your ablility to feel the Force, care about others, and help others. Plus many of them change you for the worse. As for pot, in my Force classes, I expect you to come sober. As a Jedi it's not recommended and should only be used in legal states.
Disabled: being disabled or long term sickness does not mean you cant be a Jedi, but it means you are limited in certain activities. Do not let this stop you! We strongly encourage and will support you in finding ways you can be a Jedi. There is one Jedi I met at a gathering who has cerebal palsy. She could barely walk, yet kept up with us. I admired her courage to show up and was so glad she opened up and talked about her frustration and shame. We thought more of her and verbalized our positive feelings. Don’t give up and don’t close off from us!
General Health
This should go without saying, but sometimes people have questions or it simply needs to be said. You know all those little health things we do: brush teeth, use mouth wash, take a shower, look for cancer, use sun block, strength and so on? Well all those things need to be done as a Jedi. We do not want to smell because that gives off a bad impression. When you are public and helping someone you want to dress as well as you can: no tears in cloths, no dirty clothes (if you can all help it), brush you hair. Look reasonably presentable (unless an emercgy happens).
It is also a good idea of learn first aid and cpr. Learn about your local clinics, hospitals, health programs, and general how to care for sick and injured. A panicked mother will thank you a thousand times over for having some good advise. Knowing the signs of a stroke or heart attack can save a person’s life.
Hospitals often have lots of information on various serious and common illness as well as classes. Practicing in your head how to call 911 and what to say and help when you are panicked yourself. But also remember you are not a trained doctor and should always refer someone to a doctor if it’s serious or you aren’t sure what to do. All this information helps you heal yourself because training tends to lead to injuries and sickness. We should do all we can to avoid it, but it does happen. A Jedi is prepared.