For so many years, I took the life I led for granted. I had my mom, dad, brother and sister all living under the same roof. I had plenty of friends, we always had food on the table and I got to do after school activities. We always had toys to play with and animals to bother; My life seemed pretty typical.

As I entered my teenage years, I admit, I was selfish when it came to all the stuff I had in my life, material or not. One of the things I took advantage of the most was my health. Little did I know, in about six years, my life, but most importantly my health, was going to crumble around me.

The nightmare all began on November 9, 2014. A little headache turned into months of questions that were left unanswered. Along with my headache that turned into a migraine was dizziness, fatigue, failure to think straight and so much more. I went through dozens of doctor appointments, tests, scans, medications and countless sleepless nights. Without any answers after a month of trying to figure out what was attacking my body, I ended up in the ER and straight to the hospital for a few days. More tests were ran and doctors were all around. I knew that I did it to myself. I found out that all along I was taking myself for granted.

Over the 19 years of being alive at the time, I had ran myself ragged. I took for granted what I thought my body could do, yet it couldn't. I didn't sleep enough. I didn't eat healthy whatsoever; mini muffins were really popular in my book. I just did whatever I wanted to do. I fell apart. My body literally fell apart after countless illnesses that I never fully treated. I fell apart after being in the worst relationship I could have put myself through. I fell apart and no one could glue me back together...except myself.

Since taking my body through hell and back, I knew what I had to do: I had to listen to myself. I had to stop taking myself for granted. I had to be there for myself even if no one else was.

I am a few months away from calling it two years since my worst nightmare happened and my health fell apart. I now eat gluten free, I exercise regularly, I have kept the friends around that lift me up and have left the ones that bring me down. I happily go away to college and love everything about it. It's hard to remember how I used to take myself for granted at one point in my life when everything now is just peachy.

I guess what I am saying is that no matter how much you put yourself through, there is always a way to dig your way out. A better life is out there for you, you just have to take the first step.