It’s been a long break from my gym routine. For someone with rheumatoid arthritis, movement is a game-changer, but the past few weeks (or months) have been… messy. I might have hinted in my posts that I was dealing with something—a mix of frustration, things in and out of my control, the constant buzz of business (ok life business), and a dash of social issues. But at the end of the day, who was really at a loss? Me. No one else had anything to lose but me...

So, I finally pulled myself together and restarted my gym routine a day before yesterday. And then—bam! Another setback. The migraine hit, followed by hypertension. I don’t know if one triggered the other or if they just decided to team up against me, but either way, they took me right back to square one.

So yeah, no gym again for two days. But you know what? I am not giving up this time. I have to make it work. Because if I don’t take care of myself, no one else will.

Live for Yourself First

People say, "I will die for my family." I say, why not live for them? Or better yet, live for yourself. Take care of yourself—not just for others, but because you deserve it.

Strength training isn't just about looking a certain way (though let’s be honest, that’s a perk that comes with this). It’s about being able to lift your own skillets and heavy pots when you’re older. It’s about staying strong enough to carry your own life without waiting for someone else to do it for you.

The Dependency Mindset

Where I live, it’s common to hear elderly women—sometimes some ladies even in their fifties would say, “We’re old now. We’ve done enough. It’s our children’s duty to take care of us.” And by children, they usually mean their daughters-in-law. Because, somehow, she’s now responsible for her husband, his parents, and everything else. The elders tend to say they have retired from life, that they are not fit to work anymore.

Why? Is it really their health holding them back? Or is it just an excuse?

Maybe both.

But why? Why is dependency so deeply ingrained? Why do people stop trying when they still have so much life left?

I don’t want to be that person. I won’t be that person. Yes, my body throws its own challenges at me—RA, migraines, hypertension - but I will make it work. Because if I don’t take care of myself, no one else will.

People will always be there to bring you down, to disrupt the balance of your life. That’s just how it is. But you know what? We don’t, and we won’t, give them this power. Because the same people who have so much to say will never walk this track for you. They won’t sweat it out in your shoes. They won’t feel your struggles. They won’t lift your burdens, so why let them weigh you down?????

So yeah,f them.

Live your life in the healthiest way possible, not for society, not for validation, but because you deserve it. It’s your birthright.

So here’s my resolution in writing—this one’s for me, and for every one of you reading this. No more excuses. No more waiting for the ‘right time.’ Stop depending on others, at least while you still can depend on yourself.

Let’s make it work. Let’s do this for ourselves. Happy vibes, positive life!