2-3-4 Friday - A mosquito nearly killed me

‘Seeking to spark the most potential within you per word of any online newsletter’

1 thought

Dear friends,

I’m sorry I missed last Friday’s newsletters. I was on my bed, sleeping.

Scratch that. I was on my bed, and nearly dying.

I was diagnosed with dengue fever on 2nd August, and for those in more temperate countries who are not familiar with dengue, dengue is a viral fever that leaves patients with a raging high fever, chills, headache, and a diminishing platelet count.

The worst symptom for me was the rashes that broke out over my body, and left me with involuntary spasms. I would be close to falling asleep, when I would have a sudden spasm, feel an itch that wouldn’t go away, however hard I scratched.

Catching dengue forced me to rest, far longer than I expected.

For a week, I did no work.

And it was tempting to sneak in pieces of work, like trying to write a newsletter in between my recovery, but eventually it got so difficult that I decided against it.

There is a lesson in all of this. On Wednesday night, feeling feverish, weak, and close to dying, I felt a deep sense of peace knowing that I could die. I felt I had done all I could with my life, that I had tried everything I wanted, and I was ready to go.

I’m 26.

On Sunday, with the unbearable itch, again, I was ready to leave this Earth.

Both times, my willingness to die led me to see that doing what one will never regret is far more important than doing what one needs to do.

There’s a myth that says - if you follow your dreams, you will be happy.

No. You won’t be. Following your dreams means a very painful process of persisting, even when the whole world shouts no.

But when you’re faced with your maker, and close to dying, the only person you need to answer to, is yourself.

And so the biggest question of success isn’t,

How much have you achieved?

Rather, it’s

Have you been honourable to yourself?

1 talk

When you're close to death, nothing else seems that important. The only things that matter in life, are whether you were ever honourable to yourself. 

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It’s easy to dishonour yourself. In fact, the longer you keep your dreams kept in the locker, the more you dishonour yourself. You keep it locked there because you see them as small and insignificant, and not worthy of seeing the light of the day.

It is so easy to look down on yourself.

I used to do that everyday.

Until I realised that if I continued to do that, I would lose everything I ever had.

Some gifts are placed into your hands. These gifts ask for you to steward them well, and to guard them with your life.

Dishonour them, and you will see the last of them.

P.S. Want to think differently about a problem you're facing? Let’s chat (and no worries, there's no fee!)

John

Live Young, Live Well - Work Your Love