One day I left work, and when I got home I thought I was having a heart attack.
It was stress, and the toll of shift work. I kept working that way for another two years. My heart and mind felt like they never rested. My blood pressure climbed as high as 254/120. I lived with a constant fear of a heart attack or a stroke. I had always been a strong-willed person, and not having control over my own thoughts bothered me more than anything.
Eventually I quit, because my health was suffering. Prayer and my faith kept me going. I knew this wasn't what God had in store for me.
The question that changed it
I went back to college. One day a professor asked me what my passion was. I told him photography. He corrected me. He said a true passion is about helping others, because that is what we are designed to do, and that the people who love their careers are most often in fields where they help people.
I started volunteering. Through that, I found the career I'm in today, the most fulfilling work I've ever had.
Finding beauty close by
I also started hiking. I began to see how much beauty we take for granted: we are always just minutes from it. Illbility is part of that story, and it's designed to encourage and inspire others.
Where I am now
Today I work in a career I enjoy, and I use photography and my other skills to tell people's stories of hope and their comebacks.
I've also written a children's book trilogy, Becoming Nana, inspired by my grandmother, the strongest woman I've ever met. All three books are available on Amazon:
- I Can't Eat No Pippin Apples
- Broken Mirrors, Cornrows, and Cardboard Boxes
- Clean Socks and a Dollar in My Pocket
What I'd tell you
If you're in the middle of a hard stretch, this is halftime, and we're a second-half team. Whatever situation you're in, there is a resolution on the other side of it. It's only temporary.
You're not the only one
Illbility isn't only my story. On our YouTube channel, other people share their own setbacks and comebacks in their own words.
Hear other people's stories on YouTube →
And if you have a comeback of your own, I'd be honored to hear it. Email support@illbility.com or tag @illbility.
A Comeback From A Setback.
— Chris Stewart
Wear the message: Hope Hoodie · A Comeback From A Setback Tee