I realized that health is the most important thing and that all

The Awakening of True Wealth

Hear now the words of Blanka Vlašić, the champion who soared above the earth yet learned, through struggle, that the highest heights are not measured in meters but in meaning: “I realized that health is the most important thing and that all the other things come with time if you are devoted enough.” These are not the words of ease, but of revelation—born from pain, recovery, and reflection. For in the journey of every soul, there comes a moment when the glittering pursuits of the world fade before the quiet light of truth: that health—of body, mind, and spirit—is the foundation upon which all greatness stands.

The Meaning of the Teaching

Vlašić’s wisdom speaks to a truth as ancient as the first sunrise—that health is the root from which all virtues and victories grow. Without it, no dream can thrive, no love endure, no work bear fruit. It is the invisible strength that sustains the visible triumph. Many seek wealth, fame, or success before attending to the vessel that carries them, only to find their treasures slipping through trembling hands. Yet Vlašić reminds us: if we devote ourselves to the care of the self, if we nurture the body and spirit with patience, then all other blessings shall follow in their rightful time. For the wise know that health is not merely freedom from illness—it is harmony, the sacred balance between effort and renewal.

The Origin of the Words

Blanka Vlašić, a Croatian high jumper of extraordinary grace and power, was once among the greatest athletes of her generation. She soared to world championships, her name echoing in arenas across the globe. But when injury struck—a chronic condition that threatened to end her career—she was brought to the stillness of reflection. In that long silence between pain and healing, she came to understand what competition had hidden from her: that the body, though strong, is fragile, and that devotion to health is not weakness but wisdom. From this realization came her words—simple, yet profound, like the calm after a storm.

The Tale of the Warrior’s Return

There is an old tale of a warrior who sought glory in endless battle. His sword was sharp, his victories many—but his body grew weary, and one day it betrayed him. As he lay ill, unable to rise, he understood that all his conquests meant nothing without the strength to enjoy them. In his final days, he taught his disciples: “The greatest battle is not against others, but for oneself—to keep the fire within burning, yet never to consume the vessel that holds it.” Vlašić’s realization mirrors that truth. The true warrior, the true athlete, the true human being—each must learn that preservation is not the enemy of progress, but its eternal ally.

The Virtue of Devotion

Vlašić speaks also of devotion—that sacred force which transforms waiting into purpose and struggle into triumph. She reminds us that time itself yields to those who are steadfast. To be “devoted enough” means to walk the path of health with constancy: to rise when weary, to rest when needed, to listen to the wisdom of the body rather than the pride of ambition. This devotion is not passive; it is a quiet heroism, the courage to nurture rather than to conquer. For just as the earth must lie fallow before it can bear fruit, so must the body be tended before it can perform its miracles.

The Balance Between Striving and Stillness

In the world of achievement, where the race never ends and success is often mistaken for worth, Vlašić’s words are a call to balance. She teaches that life’s treasures come not through haste, but through harmony. The river does not rush its journey to the sea, yet it reaches it all the same. So too must we learn to flow with patience—to build strength not through force, but through rhythm. For when health falters, all pursuits falter; but when it flourishes, even time becomes our ally. The one who guards their health guards their destiny.

The Lesson for the Generations

Therefore, O listener, let this truth be engraved upon your heart: tend first to your health, for it is the root of all good things. Do not neglect the simple acts—sleep, nourishment, movement, peace of mind—for they are the pillars of your existence. Seek not to harvest before you have sown; all things will come in their season if your devotion is true. Honor your body as the temple of your purpose, and your spirit as the flame that fills it. For health is the melody that makes all other songs possible.

The Eternal Counsel

So let the wisdom of Blanka Vlašić echo through the ages: “Health is the most important thing, and all the other things come with time if you are devoted enough.” Let it remind every seeker, every dreamer, and every laborer that the path to greatness begins with self-care, not self-neglect. Be steadfast, be patient, and be kind to yourself. For when the body is strong and the heart serene, the world itself opens its doors—and all that you seek will find its way to you, in the fullness of time.