Prioritizing my health; a lesson I learned the hard way.

This is an interesting topic for me and reading through other entries has taught me quite a few life-applicable lessons. I have my share of experience from the last five years that a few people can learn from as well.

I am a young, hardworking, and ambitious guy. I started my hustle as a teenager just to build a future for myself and my family. Taking a break wasn't an option for me because I always have bills to pay and every second meant a lot to me.

I worked Monday to Saturday every week and even when I am down, I always have a reason to continue working. At a point, I started falling sick at work but I didn't pay any attention to my health.

I didn't want to be seen as a weakling so discussing how I was feeling with my family felt unreasonable to me so I kept everything to myself. Whenever I heard people talking about someone who slump and died, it scares me a lot. I use to eventually laugh the thoughts off because I was barely 18 years of age and thinking about death was silly.

I might be a teenager though but wasn't living like one. I always travel to work on Monday and return on Saturday evening. My hustle paid off and coupled with the help of people, I was able to send myself to school.

I got my first degree and decided to get a job. All that period was tough for me because I couldn't get a job. I spent a year roaming around for the job that would help me take care of my family and chase my dream at the same time but I didn't get any.

In 2019, I got a job that was far from what I wanted and I took it. My success at the job earned me a good job with better pay in the same company and the need for growth at my place of work made me push myself harder.

I thought giving my best can bring promotion so I threw myself in without any limitations into the job. I worked even when I returned home late after sitting in traffic for 4-5 hours every day, I was always thinking about ways of boosting my team's productivity.

There are days I felt sick and could just call HR to let him know I won't be coming but I will always rush down to work just to ensure my team is working perfectly. I remembered a time I was involved in a minor bike accident, I was advised to visit the hospital but I turned it down because I didn't want to leave my work undone for that day.

I went on pushing myself recklessly until I woke up one morning and couldn't lift my left leg properly. I was scared and after a little massage, I was able to move it.

I prepared for work immediately and left the house, I wanted to alight from the bus after sitting for long in the morning traffic when my leg refused to move again.

I dragged the leg and it was painful. After forcing it around for a whole day, the pain got worse but I didn't stop. I kept working with it until I couldn't move anymore, I became useless to myself.

I eventually saw the need to go to the hospital and I wept on the bus that day because I was in so much pain.

On my arrival there, a nurse took my vitals and ran some tests for me. I finally met a doctor who asked me a series of questions. I remembered him saying he didn't know what to tackle first. He said my blood pressure was terrible and it seems I have damaged my left leg muscles.

My new broke my heart and what broke it more was that my HMO doesn't cover such treatment. It was then I had to involve my family because my savings won't see me through with the treatment.

I couldn't stand my mom crying when she saw me struggling to walk, I was grounded for months and my friends had to cover for me at work while I went through treatment. I neglected my health and its revenge on me was drastic. Aside from the leg, my blood pressure wasn't smiling.

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_{Image was captured and edited by me}

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After I recovered, my health became a priority to me. I realized that health is truly wealth and it is only when you are healthy you can cater for your family or chase any dream.

It is important that while we pursue success, we should always find the time to take a break and check on our physical and mental well-being. Unlike before when it was just about becoming successful, I have included my well-being in my goals and surprisingly, I am coping with both very well.

I always thought concentrating on my health was just a waste of time and it would just be a setback. I do say it is better not to know your ailment because knowing it will make me panic and force me to take treatments but that thought changed since I discovered that paying attention to my health is what can make me productive.

There are a lot of people who are pushing really hard without thinking of their health, it doesn't make sense for you to make money and begin to nurse a particular illness after.

Just like our dreams are our priorities, our health should be a priority as well.

I hope you learned one or two things from this, thanks for reading.