When Life Sends a Warning: It's Time to Tend to Every Part of You

I was obedient. I started the car and drove to the hospital.

A few Sundays ago, I woke up at 5:30 AM like I always do—groggy, slightly irritated, and barely moving—getting my daughter ready for work. Normally, I shuffle half-asleep, make sure she’s set, take her to work, do my grocery shopping, and then sink back into bed like I actually have a few more hours of sleep waiting for me (which I don’t, but let me have my little delusions).

But that morning was different.

The night before, Spirit whispered to me. Not loud. Not forceful. Just a soft nudge:

Tomorrow, you are going to get up. Get dressed. Wear white. Take your time. Care for your skin.

Now listen—at 5:30 AM? That means I have to be up at least by 5 AM. That’s a hard sell. But I listened. I got up, picked out my white sweatsuit, and actually took a full shower instead of just doing a quick splash-and-go. Then, I took time to moisturize, to be present with myself. And that’s when I saw it.

A dark, deep bruise the size of a small bowl on the back of my knee.

My heart dropped.

Where did that come from? Did I bump into something? Is this a blood clot? Could I be in danger and not even know it? My mind started racing, but my body told me the truth—I was afraid.

After dropping my daughter off at work, I drove to the parking lot of the grocery store and just sat there. Something didn’t feel right. Fear still lingered.

Then I heard the voice again—Spirit telling me which hospital to go to and to go there now.

I was obedient. I started the car and drove to the hospital.

As I lay there waiting to be seen, then waiting for the results, I thought about how often we move through life ignoring what’s really happening to us. How often we push through exhaustion, through pain, through the small signals our bodies give us until something forces us to stop.

I braced myself for the worst. But the tests came back clear—it wasn’t a clot. It was hypertension. High blood pressure brought on by stress, exhaustion, and too little focus on my own health. Truthfully, I spent the better part of 2024 grieving, and it had finally taken a toll on this body.

It’s not like I didn’t know I needed to take better care of myself or that I haven’t had moments where I didn’t feel well. But knowing something and doing something about it are two very different things.

Compartmentalization is a Survival Skill—But It’s Not a Lifestyle

I am excellent at compartmentalizing. I can focus on one thing hard—my business, my clients, my daughter, my relationships. But here’s the problem: when I hyper-focus on one area of my life, something else always takes the backseat.

And I could get away with that before. But not anymore.

Because I’m in a season where everything matters.

• My health.

• My business.

• My peace.

• My joy.

• My relationships.

I can’t afford to neglect anything. Because what you ignore doesn’t disappear—it waits. And when it’s waited long enough, it comes back demanding your attention. Sometimes as a crisis. Sometimes as an illness. Sometimes as a deep sadness that you can’t quite name.

So after the hospital, I didn’t just swing to the other extreme and make my whole life about my health. That’s the old pattern—hyper-focusing on one thing and letting everything else fall away. Instead, I integrated.

I rested. I slowed down my work schedule without abandoning my purpose. I cooked meals that actually nourished me. I followed my doctor’s orders and scheduled intentional downtime instead of waiting for my body to force me to.

Then, a week later, after adjusting my pace and making changes, I found myself back in my usual routine—grocery shopping at 6 AM. But this time, something clicked. I wasn’t just running through the motions anymore. As I pushed my cart through the quiet aisles, I realized—this is integration.

The Difference Between Learning and Living

I always teach that compartmentalization is a tool. But too many people get stuck there. They put their healing in one box, their work in another, their joy in another. They read the books, take the courses, go to therapy—but they don’t actually bring those lessons into their everyday lives.

And then they wonder why they’re stuck.

Most people don’t fail at healing because they lack information. They fail because they don’t integrate what they know into their daily lives. They learn about self-care but don’t do it. They talk about boundaries but don’t set them. They intellectualize healing but don’t live like someone who deserves to be whole.

And let me tell you—if you don’t choose integration, life will force you to constantly deal with what you neglect...until it breaks you open.

Your Call to Action: Look at What You’ve Been Avoiding

So, let’s do a real check-in:

• What’s been waiting for your attention?

• What’s sitting in the backseat that you know damn well needs to be up front?

• What area of your life is whispering to you before it starts screaming?

• Where in your life do you know better but haven’t done better?

This is your reminder that everything matters. You can’t just tend to the parts of your life that are convenient. Healing isn’t about perfect balance—it’s about integration. Learning how to care for all parts of yourself at the same time.

And if you’re struggling with that? Reach out or schedule a session.

Because you deserve more than just knowing how to heal. You deserve to live like someone who is whole.

And that, my love, can always starts today.