Enough to kill, apparently.
Got wind of a recent incident, of the death of a 29 year old contract staff for a company. She died of work related stress, as noted by her friend's blog post...
"Her cause of death was mainly due to overwork. Doctor said that she sat down for too long a time and a blood clot formed at her legs. When she tried to stand up, the blood actually shot to her heart, causing her to collapse. Her Mom called the ambulance immediately but even on the way there, she was informed that MJ's condition was critical, asking her to be prepared... ..According to her Mom, she was working non-stop for the past 8 hours with the lap top on her lap, replying emails and work related stuff, so this proves what the doctors had examined as well."
Saddening news indeed. All the years of academic pursue to this job, for an ending such as this. An ending no one would wish, or even contemplate about.
But the fact is, people are dying, and "dying".
This is definitely not an isolated case of mortality. But more so....people are "dying" within. Join me on a work-day morning train ride, and you would probably be able to catch a few and see for yourself...tired, worn-out, listless and lifeless eyes staring out. Sure, the makeup and all helps cover it. But you could just almost catch a betraying whiff of a sense, that something isn't right. People aren't really happy and satisfied.
And somehow, I suppose many of these people feel trapped in their circumstances, like this lady.
I wonder if I'll ever be in the same situation. But once again, it comes as a sombre reminder, of my own frailty, and the need to take care of my health, and self. And yeah, Sarah Tong's sharing on her devotional verse about worrying, impressed and reminded me. How wise indeed, for us to challenge ourselves with the practicality of the words of A God, who takes time to rest...
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life...
...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34
What a simple, yet self-denying call it is.
In trusting, do not worry.
Maybe someone needs to be told about this. Maybe you and I, can do with a reminder of it. If only, the lady managed to find some comfort and release from her situation. Condolences to her family.
To end, here is an excerpt of the final blog post she made, just 2 days before her departure, on 21st April..
In trusting, do not worry.
Maybe someone needs to be told about this. Maybe you and I, can do with a reminder of it. If only, the lady managed to find some comfort and release from her situation. Condolences to her family.
To end, here is an excerpt of the final blog post she made, just 2 days before her departure, on 21st April..
Worked up, Stressed up, Crashed down
...I've got myself sick these few days.
Had diarrhea last Thu, hurt my knee and was limping badly since last Sunday, had breathlessness since Wed & fainted after work on that day at my office lift lobby, knocked my head against the wall when I fainted, collapsed again last night at home. Now my chest feels really tight & breathing is really tough. Getting up & walk, I just feel like I'm carrying a heavy baggage of few hundred kilos & I'll start to feel really weak & dizzy.
Doc just said I'm really stressed out. sigh..... what should I do? Quit? or continue this ultra-super stressful job? I've got a contract of 6 mths to fulfill... 3 months to commit. If I quit now, I've got to pay back 1 mth's salary. Not worth it. If i quit after May, it won't be so bad. But I don't know if my health can tolerate til then. My mom's really worried & I can't do much to get less worried. Cos my focus was to earn lots of $.
I really thought I was able to do everything, that I can be supergirl as well, but my health is worsening at a fast rate. Vitamin M(oney) isn't gonna cure my health. Just yesterday, I received an email from my job agency saying that a contract staff who's working in HP as well, passed away from heart attack, leaving his wife & kids... deja vu? coincidental? a warning sign? I dunno.
I don't wanna end up dead for the sake of dough. The moral of the story is don't ever fall in love with your company or your job.
