How Sickness Helped Me Appreciate Life More

I don’t usually get sick.

So when I do, it hits different.

Last week, I went to Busch Gardens and had a good time.

I was outdoors all day, walking for hours in the heat.

According to my tracker, I burned over 5,000 calories that day.

The problem?

I barely drank any water.

After the park, I ate a plate of super spicy, high-sodium chicken… and then decided to top it all off with over an hour of hookah.

Let’s just say your boy was dehydrated.

Dehydration is something I can’t play with.

It messes me up fast, and this time, the effects lingered.

My nose started getting stuffy, my mouth was dry, my eyes watery, and soon enough, I was down bad.

For the next few days, I was straight-up sick.

Even though I knew this particular illness was temporary, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much I take good health for granted.

Being sick makes you realize just how holistic life really is.

Life Feels Simple… Until It Doesn’t

On a normal, healthy day, I can run up and down stairs without thinking twice.

But when I’m sick?

Every little task becomes a strategic decision.

“Should I go downstairs now or wait?”

“I’m cold under this blanket, but if I get up, I’ll lose the warmth.”

“Is it worth the energy to walk across the room?”

These small internal debates pop up constantly.

Even speaking feels like a task.

Every word takes more effort when your head is pounding.

That’s when it really hits you that everything is connected.

When one part of your body is down, everything feels off.

And when it rains, it pours.

From One Pain to Another

After a few rough days, I finally decided to take NyQuil.

I wanted a good night’s sleep to shake off this cold.

It worked… kind of.

I slept well, but in a terrible position.

I woke up with my sinuses clear, but now my neck was in unbearable pain.

I couldn’t even turn my head without feeling a sharp jolt.

So there I was…

Healed from one issue, now stuck with another.

That’s when I noticed something else…

When you’re sick, you’re more prone to other problems.

You’re eating irregularly, skipping sunlight, barely moving, and that all adds up.

Looking back, I realize how much all of this could have been prevented.

If I could rewind time to Busch Gardens, I would’ve drank a few bottles of water or grabbed a Gatorade.

I knew better, but I ignored it because I was having fun.

And that’s how sickness often begins.

We enjoy the moment too much to listen to the warning signs.

Greater Compassion Through Sickness

This experience didn’t just humble me.

It made me more empathetic.

I knew my cold would pass in a few days.

But not everyone has that luxury.

For some, chronic pain, limited mobility, or constant discomfort is their everyday life.

Sickness reminded me of the privilege it is to feel normal.

Sickness as a Reset

Sure, life would be easier without ever getting sick.

But I do believe Mother Nature uses sickness as a reset.

When we get too comfortable, too cocky, or too careless, sickness humbles us.

It reminds us:

• We’re human. We’re vulnerable. And we’re not promised perfect health forever.

It’s in those low moments—when you go from feeling like you’re on top of the world to barely making it down the stairs—that growth happens.

For more insights into mindset and confidence, check out the Level Up Mentality book:

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– ArmaniTalks