She remembered the words of her colleague who had once broken a leg and had to walk on crutches: “It’s doable, but it makes every step harder.” That memory stuck with her, because it was a vivid reminder that good health could never be taken for granted.
One morning, as she tied her shoelaces for a jog, Hana smiled at the thought of her earlier struggles. There were days when the alarm clock felt like her enemy, and her blanket was far more persuasive than her running shoes. But each time she pushed herself, she returned feeling alive, more focused, and more grateful. She whispered to herself:
“The inconvenience is temporary, but the benefit is lasting.”
Through experience, Hana realized that self-care was not selfish—it was a form of stewardship. Everything she did for her body, mind, and spirit eventually overflowed to her family, colleagues, and friends. If she neglected herself, everyone around her would feel the ripple.
Still, she wasn’t immune to the excuse of “I don’t have time.” She recalled the busiest seasons of her life—final exams, endless corporate projects, and late nights in the office. Yet as the years passed, she recognized that this phrase had quietly become a default response.
Reflection came sharply one evening when her little niece asked:
“Can you play with me tomorrow?”
Absentmindedly, Hana replied, “I’m busy tomorrow, maybe later.”
Her niece looked at her and said, “That’s okay, I’ll be busy too—with preschool.”
The simplicity of that reply hit her harder than any lecture. Children knew the value of presence better than most adults. From then on, Hana vowed never to let busyness rob her of what truly mattered.
She began to measure her day in 15-minute blocks. Ninety-six small windows of time. Some she would spend working, some resting, some with loved ones—but at least a few, she promised, would be invested in improving herself. A quick walk. A chapter from a book. A prayer. A stretch. A journal entry.
In her journal, Hana wrote:
“Time is not found, it is made. Each block of 15 minutes is a seed—I can waste it, or I can plant it. My body, mind, and spirit are the soil. What I sow, I will reap.”
And in that quiet commitment, she found her compass.
Reflection
Hana’s story reminds us that caring for the self is an act of responsibility, not indulgence. Just as professionals safeguard their tools, we must safeguard our most irreplaceable tool—ourselves. The key is not waiting for “more time” but intentionally shaping the time we already have.
References
- Sirois, F. M., & Pychyl, T. A. (2013). Procrastination and the Priority of Short-Term Mood Regulation: Consequences for Future Self. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(2), 115–127.
- Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The Benefits of Being Present: Mindfulness and Its Role in Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848.
- Kasser, T., & Sheldon, K. M. (2009). Time Affluence as a Path Toward Personal Happiness and Ethical Business Practice: Empirical Evidence From Four Studies. Journal of Business Ethics, 84, 243–255.
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