Health Tips Based on Experience

Today I want to share with you a very personal story how my battle with diabetes turned into a journey of discipline, spiritual growth, and financial opportunity. What I’m sharing is based on my own experience. I’m not a doctor or a pastor, but I believe that sometimes, our greatest difficulties can become the doorway to something better.

The Sickness That Changed Everything

After COVID-19, I found myself without a job. I was enjoying my time at home no alarm clocks, no deadlines, just freedom. It felt like a long vacation after 22 years of working on ships. I never imagined that during this peaceful time, I would become seriously ill.

I didn’t know I had diabetes until I was rushed to the hospital. My feet were in terrible condition wounds that wouldn’t heal, smelling fishy and infected. It was disgusting, even to myself. I remembered my days as a stateroom steward, changing linens stained with blood and yellow fluids. That memory made me feel even worse.

I had heard of diabetes before, but I didn’t understand it. I had diabetic guests onboard, but I never felt the seriousness of the disease. I was ignorant. That ignorance nearly cost me my life.

Discipline Became My Medicine

If I didn’t develop discipline, I wouldn’t be here today. My recovery depended on changing my lifestyle what I ate, how I moved, and how I thought. I had to say goodbye to the habits that made me sick and hello to a new way of living.

It wasn’t easy. I struggled with cravings. I wanted to eat the way I used to. But I reminded myself: I want to live longer. I want to be healthy. That desire became my motivation.

Spiritual Awakening

After I got sick, something changed in me spiritually. I began to seek God more deeply. One verse that stood out was:

James 1:4 (KJV): But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

This verse reminded me that every challenge has a purpose. Just like a mother giving birth, there is a process from the womb to maturity. There are no shortcuts. God uses trials to mature us spiritually.

My sickness was part of that process. It led me to surrender and seek God more sincerely. I began reading the Bible daily, and one verse that truly opened my heart was:

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (KJV): Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not…

This verse became a foundation for my spiritual journey. I didn’t understand it at first, but I kept reading it slowly, over and over, until I felt the meaning deep in my heart. It was like a whisper from God, reminding me to seek Him while I still had strength.

Financial Awakening

If you’ve read my previous blog, you know I invested a significant amount of money into financial education. Compared to the cost of living in Asia, it was a big amount. But I didn’t regret it. I wanted to learn online business after my sickness.

When I told my wife about the money I spent, she blocked me on Messenger. She didn’t expect that I would use more than half of my six-month contract earnings to pursue my dream. It caused tension, but I was determined. After 22 years of working, I had nothing left. I wanted to prove that I could earn even just $1 online.

That $1 became my dream. It symbolized hope. I had very little knowledge about computers. I was a complete beginner. I started dreaming about online business when blogging was popular, but I didn’t know how to start.

After attending an online seminar, it took me six months to understand the basics. Today, I only understand one topic well TikTok. It gives me a small daily income, like raindrops. But I know that with consistency, I can reach the level of my friends who earn six-digit incomes daily.

The Joy of Earning While Sleeping

There’s a special joy in waking up and seeing a few drops of income in your account. It’s not much, but it’s real. It’s proof that my financial journey is moving forward. In the beginning, it was hard. But like everything else, it’s a process.

I repeated and repeated the steps until I could say: I’m not an expert, but I’ve learned a lot. Here’s a screenshot of my small income from TikTok. It’s a reminder that even small beginnings matter.

Proverbs 13:11 (KJV): Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV): But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

These verses remind me that discipline and faith go hand in hand. When we seek God and work diligently, blessings follow.

Lessons I’ve Learned

Discipline is life-saving. Without it, I wouldn’t have recovered.

Ignorance is dangerous. I didn’t understand diabetes until it nearly destroyed me.

Spiritual growth comes through trials. God used my sickness to draw me closer to Him.

Financial opportunity can rise from hardship. My online journey began when I was at my lowest.

Small beginnings matter. Even a $1 dream can lead to something greater.

Disclaimer

I am not a pastor or a health expert. I’m simply sharing my experience. My sickness opened my eyes to health, faith, and finances. Perhaps God allowed it to remind me to seek Him while I still have strength.

Its a process

Thank you for reading my journey. I hope it inspires you to reflect on your own daily choices. Please feel free to leave a comment I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Your feedback means so much, and I look forward to sharing more with you in my next post.

Reynaldo M. Oliva