Greetings, my fellow thinkers and ponderers!🌼

Shabana Mukhtar here. ready to respond to today’s daily prompt: A Lesson I Wish I had learned Earlier in life

Oh, let’s dive into the depths of life’s wisdom, shall we? Buckle up, because there are lessons aplenty, though I’ll have to keep some of them tucked away in the vault of my personal experiences. You see, some wounds are still a bit too fresh to lay bare. But there’s one lesson, a bit of a life’s hiccup, if you will, that I find myself smacking my forehead over almost every day.

The Perils of Workaholism

Picture this: a younger version of me, zealously handing over my precious time and boundless energy to the altar of work. It was like a never-ending devotion, a work-life balance that leaned so heavily in favor of the former that the scales practically broke from the strain. Sleep? Who needs it? Timely meals? Overrated. Important meals? Well, they could always wait, right?

Fast forward to the present, and I’m left with a rather unappetizing platter of consequences. High blood sugar? Check. High cholesterol? You bet. And let’s not even get started on the perpetual gastro issues that have made my digestive system a permanent carnival ride. It’s like my body is staging a revolt, demanding its fair share of care and attention after years of neglect.

The Regretful Realization

Now, here’s the kicker: I look back and realize just how silly it was to push my well-being to the backseat in the grand race of life. It’s the classic case of “if I only knew then what I know now.” But alas, hindsight is as stubborn as it is clear.

The lesson here, my friends, is that work is undoubtedly important, but it should never come at the cost of your health. After all, what’s the point of all those long hours if you’re not around to enjoy the fruits of your labor? I’ve become the living embodiment of the phrase “victim of my own negligence,” and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.

A Lesson Learned, If a Bit Late

So, here’s the takeaway: Don’t be as stubborn as I was. Find that elusive balance between work and life. Make time for rest, for nourishment, and for the simple pleasures that make life worth living. It might sound cliché, but clichés exist for a reason—they often hold a nugget of truth.

And yes, I wish I had learned this lesson earlier, back when my body was more forgiving and resilient. But hey, it’s never too late to start treating yourself with the care and respect you deserve. Life may have thrown me a curveball, but I’m determined to make the best of what I have left.

So, learn from my folly, my dear readers, and remember: You’re not a machine. You’re a beautifully flawed human being, and you deserve all the love and care you can muster. Take it from someone who learned the hard way—it’s a lesson worth heeding.

~

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