Hit Points Reconsidered

Damage and Health...and Courage and Resolve?
What do Hit Points represent? We have been asking that question since the earliest days of the hobby. I have recently heard Tim Kask give his explanation on his YouTube channel, The Curmudgeon in the Cellar. Mr. Kask indicates that hit points represent the ability to avoid a killing blow. The loss of hit points represents tricks that work once, but that seldom work twice, special defensive moves, and other advantages learned and perfected through experience, all of which can be used up during encounters. According to Mr. Kask, only the last bit of damage that puts the PC down actually damages the body of the character. Monsters may be different and damage to a large monster may mean actually slicing them up.
I have typically narrate various damage effects such as the attack being turned aside by armor or producing only a minor scratch, etc. Over the decades, I have split hit points into body points and fatigue points, fatigue increases with experience and is lost first, unless a critical hit is scored. I am now thinking of hit points in a slightly different way. Luck, skill, mojo, karma, they all may play a part in hit points, all of which improve as the character advances in levels making the adventurer harder to kill. I am also thinking hit points represent a morale factor - faith in one's deity, self confidence, determination and a feeling of being on the right track. Certainly PC fatigue factors in as well. Each loss of hit points brings the adventurer closer to their doom!
The reverse of damage is healing or recovery of lost hit points. What constitutes healing? I think we need a broad definition, one that will encompass recovery of fatigue, return of the "mojo" and improving spirits/morale as well as the healing of bruises and wounds. Regaining the will and energy to go back into danger can constitute a major portion of either natural hit point recovery or magical "healing". Regardless of how we think of hit points, they work pretty well in the game. It has taken some years of consideration, but I think I am finally satisfied with what hit points are all about.