Obert Manyanye-Ncube

Pack resilience in your bag. When things happen, open the bag and take out resilience. It is a tool necessary to deal with life and situations that come with it

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿?

I had a patient once ask me this exact question on the very same day he went home with his first prescription, standing in front of the pharmacist reading off the label with that special look on his face only reserved for someone signing on the dotted line to an obligation they were unsure about.

"Doc, please tell me this is not forever."

And I told him what I'm going to tell you, which is that forever isn't a medical diagnosis. It's a default mode that occurs in instances where nobody asks the appropriate questions until it's too late.

Hypertensive patients aren't necessarily required to be on medication for life, but they do need to have an honest discussion about why their blood pressure numbers are abnormal to begin with. There's actually a reason for why many people experience high blood pressure, and it's often something relatively simple that's completely reversible – weight, diet, lifestyle, and other issues that may be contributing to the condition.

Fixing these problems can actually lower the amount of blood pressure medication that a person needs until it becomes totally obsolete. Studies have shown that a large percentage of patients have managed to stop taking their medications entirely after making changes to their lifestyles that allowed them to maintain a normal reading over time.

What ends up happening is that blood pressure medication gives a false sense of relief because it makes you feel like you've solved the problem with your numbers, but you haven't actually fixed anything that's causing them in the first place. You take the medicine, your number drops to the normal range, but the reality is that all the damage has been done inside your system anyway.

This is why we don't see more cardiovascular disease today even though our ancestors never needed medications like antihypertensives for their health. We have a wealth of wisdom dating back thousands of years on how to nurture our arterial walls, and our families still return to it every single day because it's irreplaceable. Work on your lifestyle alongside your prescription

How to handle a womân who ignores you..

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𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟔𝟎𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟒𝟎𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞

We tell ourselves stories, don't we? Stories of graceful aging, of wisdom earned, of a golden twilight filled with leisurely pursuits and contented reflection. And for many, that's a beautiful reality. But for others, especially those already feeling the sharp edges of survival in their 40s, that golden sunset might look more like a looming storm cloud.

Imagine this: you're in your early forties. You still possess a good amount of physical stamina, a decent reserve of emotional resilience, and a mind that, while not as sharp as it once was, can still grapple with challenges. Yet, even with these strengths, you're finding it a struggle to survive. This isn't about thriving, or even comfortably living. This is about making ends meet, navigating complex systems, and simply keeping your head above water.

Perhaps it's a combination of factors: stagnant wages, rising cost of living, unexpected medical bills, the burden of caring for aging parents or younger children, or the sheer exhaustion of a demanding job with little reward. Whatever the reasons, the energy and relative youth of your 40s are being consumed by the daily grind of survival.

Now, here's the chilling thought experiment: How will you manage survival in your 60s?

The prospect is daunting, even terrifying. Those physical reserves will inevitably diminish. The emotional fortitude, stretched thin for years, might fray further. The psychological energy, depleted by relentless pressure, could reach critical levels. If survival is a struggle now, what happens when the tools we rely on begin to weaken?

This isn't a scenario for pessimism, but for honest assessment and proactive planning. If you're in your 40s and already facing these survival hurdles, the next two decades are not a time for complacency. They are a critical window for strategic adaptation.

So, what does "managing survival" in your 60s look like when your 40s are already a fight?

𝐑𝐞-𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 "𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡"
If the goal is survival, then we need to redefine what "enough" looks like. This might mean a significant shift in lifestyle expectations, letting go of the "dream retirement" and focusing on essential needs. It means making tough choices about wants versus needs, and potentially embracing a more minimalist existence.

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫, 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥
Even if income is limited, every extra dollar saved now becomes a lifeline later. This might involve aggressive budgeting, exploring side hustles, or even liquidating non-essential assets. The goal isn't to become wealthy, but to create a small cushion against unexpected expenses and income dips.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭
Our physical health is our most valuable currency, especially as we age. This means making consistent, albeit sometimes difficult, choices to eat well, move our bodies, and manage stress. Ignoring health problems now will only amplify them, and thus the cost of survival, in our 60s.

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤
Survival is rarely a solitary endeavor. Who are your allies? Who can you rely on for practical help, emotional support, or simply a listening ear? Investing in genuine relationships now will pay dividends when you need them most. This could be family, friends, or even community groups.

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞
The world keeps changing. What skills are transferable? What knowledge will remain relevant? Learning new things not only keeps the mind engaged but can also open up unexpected avenues for income or assistance in later years. Think about skills that can be leveraged remotely or through part-time work.

𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Dealing with social security, healthcare systems, and other bureaucratic mazes can be incredibly taxing. Trying to navigate these systems when you're already struggling mentally and physically is a recipe for disaster. Starting to understand these processes now, even if you don't need them yet, can save immense stress down the line.

𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
This is perhaps the most crucial element. Survival demands ingenuity. It means looking at challenges not as insurmountable obstacles, but as problems to be solved with the resources at hand. It's about actively seeking solutions, rather than passively accepting hardship.

For those in their 40s already engaged in the daily battle for survival, the prospect of their 60s can feel like a looming tidal wave. But by acknowledging the reality with clear eyes, and by taking deliberate steps to build resilience, resourcefulness, and a strong support system, the future can be faced not with dread, but with a determined spirit. The fight for survival in your 40s can, in essence, become the training ground for navigating the challenges of your 60s. It's a tough truth, but one that empowers us to act.