Do you feel overwhelmed, tired, frazzled? Put down the to-do list for a bit.

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I don't write a lot of blogs on Wealthy Affiliate, Not yet, I'll get there. I learned a valuable lesson about work and balance last week - that I think others might benefit from.

Prioritizing doesn't just mean with your business, it means looking after your emotional and physical health. Sometimes that means stepping back from writing, and web design and rankings.

I'm a computer teacher and school starts here in about eight days. I have to plan for the school year. I'm trying to finish the WA courses, and figure out themes, and communicate with members, and ask questions and commit to a niche, etc.

To add to the stress, I had an an impossible-to-get appointment to have my apartment painted. So I had to take the whole place apart and put it back together again.

And then I went blind in one eye.

For the last couple of years I've had continuing problems with torn and detached retinas, etc. My surgeon is one of the best in the world. I thought it was under control, and then an unforeseen episode: A blood vessel burst in my eye completely obstructing my vision.

Surgery was imminent. Surgery was supposed to happen yesterday. I've already had surgery in my right eye that was successful, but know from experience that the recovery from eye surgery is brutal and takes months.

My doctor told me a week ago that if I sit still and stop reading and computing and working out at the gym, I might have a shot at the eye healing on it's own. The possibility was slim. If I did not regain any vision, I would have no choice. So he gave me a week.

So I stopped for a week. I stopped writing and reading and watching training videos. I watched Netflix, which I never do. I put the gym workouts on hold. I took naps which I never have time for. I gave extra quality time to my three fluffy cats. I sat in the park and watched and fed the birds.

I took extra time to chant - a form of mediation in my particular Buddhist practice. I spent more time watching birds and petting other people's dogs on the street. I called friends and family. I actually called, I did not text or message on FB.

The surgery was scheduled for yesterday. I marched downtown to the clinic on the way to the hospital. They tested my eyes, My vision had apparently improved enough that my doctor felt waiting for it to heal on it's own was now a viable option. He cancelled the surgery, and told me to keep taking it easy.

So that is exactly what I'm going to do, but I do have to live. This may be the only blog post I write for another month or two. That's ok. I may not get very much content written for my first web site. That's ok. I like to read all the blog posts and leave pertinent comments on other member's blog posts that I find interesting. I have to keep that down to two or three a day. That's ok.

I'd like to finish Course 2-5, may it may take another three months to get through all of it. That's ok. I'd like to finally pick out the right theme and decorate it, but I can't at this moment, and that's ok.

If I am going to write compelling content, and interact on Social Media and write some more and read good books - my favorite activity - I need two working eyes. I need balance to minimize my stress levels and time to do nothing.

We all do. So put down that to-do list and go feed some birds. :-)




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Recent Comments

21

Health is wealth. So do take a break and be healed pretty soon.

I wish you all the best. Just work at a practical pace that suits you. Your health comes first.

Maybe you can try recording your thoughts/ideas on your phone or recorder until you get the time to write.

I wish you all the best with everything.

I agree 100% with your entry paragraph, but as I read further my reaction turned to ... dah!

Health comes first ... always, especially when you get to or close to the hump. What is the hump you might ask? That's when there are more years looking back than there will likely be looking forward.

I get the sense you were putting more pressure on yourself because your school teacher summer was rapidly coming to a close.

But then you nonchalantly mentioned that you went blind in one eye. My first thought was macular degeneration. Fortunately that doesn't seem to be the case.

So do the right thing ... precisely what your doctor prescribes. WA will be here. The only pressure is what you put on yourself. That's one of the cool things about this educational process. You are not held to a time line to continue with the program.

So true! we tend to forget the little achievements of the past. Man's insatiable wants override that. If we look into the good past it can encourage us and help us not to get so scared of the future. There is always something to be thankful for.

Hi Wendy,
Your health goes first. Otherwise your body will force you to put your health on top.
It is the constructed pressure we load on ourselves so that we think we have to achieve something all the time.
In my feeling being comes first, doing comes second.
Wish you all the best and take it easy just like your are writing.

Well said!

Take it easy and don't overdo it. I know it is hard but follow your Doctor. Meditation is a great way to align with your subconscious to tell it to start healing your body. If you are bored you can record your ideas and talk about it. That way you do not lose your ideas.
Send you Healing vibes and take care.

you will be pleased that your eye is healing of its own accord Wendy, all the best. Working at creating an online future can be an all consuming affair, I think you have raised such a very valid point the cost not in money terms but in terms of our lifestyle and finding that balance between work and that natural life flow seems something that we have to work at achieving

I have had cataract surgery a couple of years ago. Both eyes. Now my eyes are just getting bad obviously just because I am getting old and some would say I eat the wrong things. They water more than they used to and get blurry all of the time.

Sometimes life interferes with the best laid plans of mice and men (or women)

Yes, it does. Make sure you're taking a decent multivitamin once a day, and make sure you're wearing the right glasses. You might need a new prescription. :-)

My glasses broke the last time I passed out, so it is time to get some more anyway...

I am reading your post, and can't stop thinking of my life rhythm. I should take your advises and slow down a little bit. I controlled my epilepsy seizures during the last 6 months, but now they diagnosed me hypothyreosis and depression. I really need to slow down a little bit, and pay more attention to myself. Thanks for the awakening post.

Financial freedom is very important, but it's a process. If we don't take time to enjoy the process and keep things in perspective, we can overextend ourselves very quickly. Stay healthy! :-)

Completely agree. Thanks again.

What an amazing and traumatic experience Wendy and I'm glad to see you have the spirit to get beyond it! You can perhaps be taking notes and writing in limited notation with your good eye in the interim! Relax and enjoy your journey and get well soon!

Yes, I am using my good eye for everything. But I have to be careful. I can't over strain that eye - that was the eye they operated on last year for the partial retina detachment.

It works fine now, but I can't overdo it. :-) It's all about balance, even if this hadn't happened.

good luck with the second surgery

If I keep doing what I'm doing, by finding a balance, there won't be any. :-)

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