The truth hit me hard when my body started showing signs of exhaustion. Headaches became constant, my energy dipped, and my mood was a shadow of who I used to be. I didn’t feel like myself anymore. And all for what? Sure, perimenopause isn't helping but most of my ailments were the result of my paid work. A few more dollars in the bank, a sense of achievement that faded as soon as the next demand appeared?
That’s when I realized something had to change. Wealth, while useful, is fleeting. Health—both mental and physical—is priceless. When we burn ourselves out chasing money, we often end up spending that very money trying to recover our health. I didn’t want that to be my story.
My blog post When Job Stress Becomes Too Heavy to Carry was just the tip of an iceberg that I didn't know what coming. Minutes before I was to start my vacation time for my son's wedding, one of my coworkers punted a ticket to me for resolution. I did what I could to investigate before I logged off but I couldn't resolve the issue. Of course, the next day and the day after that I proceeded to log into work resources breaking the vow I made to myself of not working during vacation. After the wedding and on my final day of vacation, I logged in and found NOTHING had been done except for what I did when I logged in during vacation.
I resumed work the next day absolutely LIVID. I grew up listening to classic country music with my late father and the song "Take This Job and Shove It" by Johnny Paycheck was going through my head. Despite the temptation, no, I did not quit my job. I shared my concern with our department director who attended a meeting we had to follow-up on the ticket. He agreed the team could/should have done better but also indicated that I set a high standard for myself, a standard that others do not share.
I followed the advice that I wrote about in Take a Break, Take a Pause - Take Care of Your Mental Health and I took a sick day. Yes, I just got back from vacation but my work experience robbed me of the ability to relax and enjoy that time. Rather, after three vacation days and a weekend, I found myself feeling angry and depleted.
So, I will begin making small but powerful choices: saying no to extra work when I needed rest, choosing a walk outside instead of scrolling through emails late at night, and giving myself permission to prioritize peace. It won't be easy. I know I'll feel guilty, over time, I hope to find a richness that money can’t buy: clarity of mind, energy in my body, and joy in the present moment.
I still value hard work, but I refuse to let it cost me my well-being. Because at the end of the day, no paycheck can replace peace of mind, no material possession can heal a weary heart, and no job title can bring true fulfillment.
Choosing health over wealth doesn’t mean giving up—it means choosing life, in its fullest, healthiest sense. And that’s the kind of richness I want to hold on to.
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