Last Wednesday evening, my body began to itch. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but as the night went on, the itching became so intense that I couldn’t sleep.

By the next morning, hives had spread across my body, and my temperature began to rise.

I barely managed to finish Thursday’s classes, but that night, I couldn’t sleep at all. My entire body burned as if on fire, and the relentless itching from head to toe was unbearable.

After visiting the doctor, I was diagnosed with cholinergic urticaria — a reaction caused by stress, immune imbalance, and poor sweat regulation. I was prescribed medication, and the dosage of my regular allergy shot had to be reduced.

Because I needed to avoid raising my body temperature, I couldn’t teach on Friday or Saturday.

The worst part wasn’t just the rash — it was the endless itching at night and the sleeplessness that came with it. It was so unbearable that I thought I would rather be in pain than endure that kind of discomfort.

Thankfully, after resting well through the weekend and the Monday holiday, and taking my medication as directed, I slowly began to recover.

On Tuesday afternoon, when I finally returned to the dojang and saw my students again,

I was filled with indescribable gratitude.

I realized once again how precious good health truly is — and how ordinary days are, in fact, extraordinary gifts. Through this experience, I learned that being healthy doesn’t just mean being free from illness; it means having the strength and freedom to do what you love.

During the days I couldn’t teach, I felt a sense of guilt and longing, but now I live each day with a deeper sense of gratitude and appreciation.

Today, I’m simply thankful that I can breathe, move, and smile. Because these simple, everyday moments — they are the greatest blessings of all.