A few weeks ago, we were in an unscheduled meeting of a few individuals. We were discussing on various issues that bother on health, business, and spirituality. As the discussion progressed, it increasingly became clear how some health challenges that people suffer in their later years are work-related or occupational diseases.

When you are a foreigner in a different clime, you tend to accept whatever job offer that comes your way because you need to make ends meet. You have many responsibilities hanging on your shoulders, so you accept even the most physically tasking jobs that you wouldn’t do if you had a choice. And until you can work your way up through education or experience or divine help, you’ll likely stay on that job for decades, sometimes till retirement. Even as self-employed individuals, you may still see yourself doing businesses that are physically and mentally draining.

In fact, sometimes we erroneously assume that the test of youthfulness is the ability to do the physically strenuous jobs that damage our health, and sometimes without protective devices. After all, we’re young, fresh, zealous, and ‘strong’.

But as the years progress, we experience a barrage of health challenges, including musculoskeletal disorders, stress and mental health disorders, work-related cancer, skin diseases, work-related diseases from biological agents. But seeing that these negative effects often manifest after several years, we don’t care about them. We just care about the money. 

Granted, you’ll make a little money today, but you’ll be doing that at a great price for your health, especially when you don’t have safety gadgets on. Of what use is making money that you won’t be alive and healthy to enjoy? Gathering wealth for a family that could be fatherless or motherless tomorrow?

The decisions you make today have consequences tomorrow. Satisfying your immediate drives always come at a cost. Think health. Think family. Think sustainability.