Pretty, pretty please?

It's been tough lately.

Bad news about a friend's dad going to the hospital because something doesn't feel right with his heart,  bad news about a co-worker who can't stop vomiting and has just found out that he's got all kinds of ulcers, bad news about another co-worker who won't be released from the hospital any time soon because they found something that now requires surgery, bad news about grandma having a leaking heart valve, bad news about grandpa who is not only fighting cancer but now has something found in his head, bad news about an aunt who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, bad news about a client who has developed type 2 diabetes, bad news that yet another friend's friend just committed suicide...

The list goes on and on and on... and I know I'm not alone because we all are surrounded by this.

See, there are some things we cannot help -- things we are born with, things that are meant to happen to us, things without any explanation whatsoever.  In such cases, it is our duty to be strong, to support and to fight for our loved ones.  It is our duty to be positive and to believe everything will be okay.  It is our duty to deal with the situation as best we can.

But sometimes there are things that we can help.  There are measures we can take to prevent and to avoid illnesses.  There are ways we can learn to strengthen our minds and our bodies.  There are foods we can eat and lifestyles we can change.  There are support groups for just about everything, and if not then start one.  There are solutions and there is hope.

We are all constantly surrounded by bad news and it's what we get out of it that matters.  Every time I hear of someone's hardships with their health, be it mental or physical or even spiritual, I feel for them and I feel for all their loved ones.  It's an endless reminder of how important it is to cherish each other, to not take things for granted, to live and to love every single day.  I'm not saying that all of our problems will go away, but don't make your life any harder than it ought to be.  We value you so now it's time for you to value you, too.

On behalf of your future self, of your children and grandchildren, on behalf of your parents, your cousins, your friends, and your co-workers, I ask you to please, please, please do what it takes to take care of yourself now.  Do what it takes because the pain you can avoid for yourself and for others down the road is worth it.  You may not realize it now or even tomorrow, but realize it before it's too late.