One afternoon, I was sitting in a local nail shop when another patron and I started a conversation about stress and its effects on the human body. Then, she began telling me about a life-threatening incident she had just endured.

Apparently, while finishing up a day on her job, she began to feel hot, sweaty and could barely breathe. She tried to ignore the symptoms, assuming it was her asthma flaring up again.

Furthermore, it was close to New Year’s Day, and she had planned to do several activities with her family.

However, she rapidly became sicker and was rushed to the emergency room, where a doctor diagnosed her with community-acquired pneumonia and said had she waited a while longer, she might have died.

She spent 14 days in the hospital recovering from the illness and had only been out of the hospital a short time.

In turn, I told her about some symptoms I experienced and that a doctor told me that stress was the culprit.

More than two years ago, I allowed one of my adult children to move back in with me, but that situation became too much to bear physically and emotionally, which was causing pain and discomfort in my stomach.

Therefore, I made several adjustments in my home, gave my daughter back her responsibilities and moved her out.

Making the decision wasn’t easy, but to save myself from further undue heartache and pain, I had to let go of the constant dramatization.

At this point, my days are brighter, and my load is lighter.

Far too many of us ignore the subtle and sometimes drastic warning signs coming from within and outside our bodies because of the challenges life can dish out.

Nonetheless, it is imperative that we be proactive when it comes to our health and listen intently to what our bodies are trying to tell us.

Because if you don’t care about yourself, no one else will. Take on what you can bear. Nothing more.

After all is said and done, we only have one life to live and give.