I Thank God… Musings at 56
Birthdays have a funny way of reminding us that time moves whether we cooperate or not. For the past two years, my birthday musings were filled with gratitude, family moments, and reflections on mid-life growth. But turning 56 came with a plot twist—one that unfolded quietly, painfully, and mostly from my sick bed.
I was sick on my birthday.
At first, it was just a simple colds—the type you self-medicate because you think,“Kaya pa ’to.” For the first few days, that was my mindset. Warm water. Over-the-counter meds. Occasional rest.
Meanwhile, friends were sending birthday greetings, cakes, and well-wishes… not knowing I was
under the blanket, battling fever and congestion. I appreciated every greeting—each one
reminded me I was surrounded by love—but they also highlighted a small irony: while my phone
was full of celebrations, my body was quietly shutting down.
By day 6, I felt slightly better and made the unwise decision to resume strength training. Light workout lang, I told myself.
But day 7 hit hard.
- Chills
- Fever
- And what started as mild colds escalated into a painful case of sinusitis
The pain was terrible—my head felt like it had its own heartbeat, my face throbbed, and my
sense of smell and taste faded. It was like someone dimmed the world around me.
A teleconsult followed, but I wasn’t prescribed antibiotics—just OTC meds. I complied,
but my condition didn’t improve.
By day 11, I finally saw a doctor face-to-face. CBC. X-ray. Antibiotics started.
On day 13, the results came in: pneumonia.
By day 14, the pulmonologist clarified that the radiologist may have overread the film. No pneumonia—but definitely a serious infection that needed proper recovery time. And I was firmly told: No weight training yet. Rest properly. Let your body heal.
Lessons at 56
This year’s birthday musing taught me something uncomfortable but necessary:
Respect your age.
Not in fear.
Not in defeat.
But in wisdom.
I mishandled my body. A recovery period that could’ve been 7 days turned into
18 days—because I pushed too soon, convinced myself I was fine, and trusted
“muscle memory” more than real recovery.
A few reminders I relearned the hard way:
- Don’t rush healing—even if you “feel better.”
- If symptoms don’t improve in 3 days, see a doctor face-to-face.
- Teleconsult is useful, but not for everything.
- Self-medication has limits.
- And when antibiotics are prescribed, follow through.
But beyond the physical lesson came the quiet reflection:
Despite spending my birthday in bed, weak and uncomfortable…
I thank God.
I thank Him for the friends who greeted me, unaware of what I was going through.
For the strength that slowly returned.
For the wisdom that came with the struggle.
For another year of life—one that still teaches, shapes, and humbles me.
Turning 56 wasn’t glamorous. But it was real. And that authenticity—painful as it was—felt like a blessing on its own.
