In This Lifetime, Nothing But Health Tru

In This Lifetime, Nothing But Health Truly Belongs to You

 

A few days ago, I came across a news story about a corporate executive in his 30s. He'd been working towards the annual performance target by sleeping only 4 hours a day for three straight months, surviving on takeout for every meal. Eventually, he collapsed in a meeting room and was diagnosed with acute gastritis and severe hormonal imbalance. The doctor said his physical condition was nearly 10 years older than that of his peers, and even with immediate adjustments, he'd need long-term rest to recover. Someone in the comment section wrote, "He lives in a luxury house and drives a fancy car, but when he's lying in that hospital bed, none of those things can even fetch him a glass of warm water."

 

That line hits a soft spot for many of us. Throughout our lives, we seem to be in a constant rush to chase things: good grades in school, a better job title at work, more wealth after starting a family. We think the more we hold in our hands, the more secure our lives will be. But along the way, we realize: no matter how big your house is, you'll only occupy one hospital bed when you're ill; no matter how much money you have, it can't buy back a healthy body; no matter how high your status is, you can't shoulder your responsibilities when your health fails. Those "indispensable" possessions we once cherished feel surprisingly fragile in the face of health.

 

My neighbor, Arthur, was known as a "hard worker." When he was young, he did backbreaking jobs to earn more money—carrying cement at construction sites, working night shifts in factories, whatever it took. Later, he started his own small factory and spent day and night at the workshop, often messaging his team to arrange the next day's work as late as 2 or 3 a.m. Last winter, he had a sudden heart attack and fought for his life in the ICU for three days before pulling through. When he woke up, he held his son's hand and said, "I used to think I was doing right by saving more money for you. Now I know, just being alive and well is more important than anything." These days, Arthur goes to the park every morning to practice tai chi and comes home on time every evening to have dinner with his wife. He never talks about "making more money" anymore; instead, he often tells people, "I was foolish before, gambling with my health. Now I understand—health is the greatest asset we have."

 

Life is full of moments that make us suddenly see the importance of health: it might be a bad cold that leaves you too weak to lift a glass of water; it might be unexpected "abnormal indicators" on your parents' medical reports that make you panic overnight; or it might be watching someone around you collapse suddenly, making you realize how fragile life really is. Those ordinary things we once took for granted—being able to eat well, sleep soundly, breathe freely—are all gifts from good health. We just often fail to recognize them as such.

 

Someone once said, "Life is like a marathon. It's not about who runs the fastest, but who can keep running the longest." Yet too many of us treat it like a 100-meter sprint, pushing ourselves to the limit without giving our bodies time to rest. We always say, "I'll take a good break after this busy stretch" or "I'll fix my health once I've made enough money." But after one "busy stretch" comes another, and "enough money" is never a fixed number. Health is never something to put off for "later"—it's something to tend to "now." Every bit of carelessness you show your body today will come back to haunt you in harsher ways tomorrow.

 

In fact, taking good care of yourself isn't hard at all: you don't need to sign up for an expensive gym membership—taking a walk after meals is exercise too; you don't need to eat luxury dishes every day—simple, regular meals are better than anything; you don't need to force yourself to work overtime late into the night—early nights and early mornings give you the energy you need. Argue less over trivial things, worry less about gains and losses, chat more with friends, and spend more time with your family. Keeping a positive mood is also a way to protect your health.

 

After all, health is the only "passport" for life's journey. Without health, you won't have the strength to enjoy even the most beautiful scenery; without health, you won't have the fortune to enjoy even the greatest wealth; without health, you won't have the chance to realize even the biggest dreams. You can pursue fame and fortune, and you can care about gains and losses—but never sacrifice your health for them.

 

In this lifetime, we'll gain many things, and we'll lose many things too. But only health belongs to you, always and forever. Eat well, sleep well, and take good care of yourself. Don't regret it until it's too late—after all, what's the point of "succeeding" if you win the whole world but lose your health?