(ThySistas.com) As I sit here writing about health, I realize it’s been over 20 years sine I’ve had a pain free day. I don’t remember what it’s like to wake up and just move about my day without having to map out how to get my body to comply with my wishes. An elder once told me that I could do anything in life I put my mind to as long as I had my health. I took her words for granted and thought she was be over dramatic about health. There were times I would be so disgruntle about different aspects of life and I thought it was the end of the world. I’m sure you can relate. If you think about the things going on in your life that cause stress, they seem like Mt Everest to you, no one has the right to diminish the gravity of what you face in life.
With that being said, I would soon find out firsthand about the wisdom warning that elder tried to give me as I watched my health decline over time at a rather rapid rate. If you would have told me 20yrs ago that I would not be able to walk several days out of the week I would have laughed at you.
Health is something too many of use take for granted despite seeing, and knowing people, struggling with such. When I say health, I don’t mean just diseases. Many of us take simple things for granted like walking, breathing on ones own, dressing yourself, brushing your teeth, walking through a grocery store, going to the bathroom at will, preparing your own food, jumping in the car to go where you choose, grabbing take out, or bathing/showering on your own at will. These are daily tasks that many of use do on a daily basis without a second thought because it’s second nature. We eat on the run…too busy to give a second though to what is going in the body. We push the body to severe extremes functioning off next to no sleep because we have so much to do. Every little thing agitates us to stress because we place high value on so many things. So much can cause us to have a bad day so we don’t think twice about the stress we are allowing. When people that care caution us to slow down, re-prioritize, and make time for self-care…far too often we blow them off because they just don’t understand we are doing what we must.
We are doing what we must…until we can’t do at all. Please don’t allow yourself to value your health when you are laid up in the hospital praying that you get through whatever has happened in one piece. Sometimes, one hospital visit becomes the beginning of many. Our body is not made to function under the demands we place upon it…I learned this the hard way and my consequence is unending. Value your health in word and deed. Take nothing in this life for granted. Everything you van do for yourself is a blessing. Nothing, and no one, is worth losing that independence.
Granted, I know accidents can happen beyond one’s control. However, too many loose health due to making bad choice, and that is what we should work to avoid. If I could talk to myself 20yrs ago I’d say girl slow down because if you don’t you will one day know a life by which you are married to pain until death do you part…literally.
Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James
May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.