If you grew up in Singapore, you probably heard this saying before: “It’s cheaper to die than to fall sick.”
It sounds dramatic when I first heard it as a teen. But now, having walked through a real health crisis with my own family, I see how painfully true it is—not just in dollars and cents, but in the emotional and relational toll it takes.
This article marks the beginning of a series exploring two core pillars of life: Health and Wealth. They may sound separate, but they are intimately linked. Without one, the other is always at risk.
When Crisis Hits Home
If you’ve ever had a loved one suffer a chronic illness or health scare, you’ll understand how quickly things can spiral. For me, it became deeply personal when my mother faced a serious health crisis.
As the patient, she experienced intense uncertainty, physical pain, frustration, and guilt. And as her caregiver, I had to make countless decisions, big and small, around her condition. Our family routines changed overnight. Priorities shifted. Conversations became more serious.
We were fortunate to have strong family ties and a company that supported me through this difficult time. But even then, the stress was real. Time, energy, finances and emotions were constantly being stretched. That experience imprinted one truth on me: your health doesn’t just affect you. It also affects everyone around you.
Prevention is Power
In my mid-thirties, my own health wasn’t in a great place. I had multiple risk factors: fatty liver, low oxygen levels, sluggish digestion, poor circulation. My energy was low. I was constantly tired, distracted, and mentally foggy. My confidence took a hit. Even my work suffered. At one point, a body scan told me I had the biological age of someone nearly 50.
It was a wake-up call. And it forced me to ask:
What would I be willing to pay for a healthy body, if I lost mine today?
Too often, we wait until something breaks before we act. Professor Tao, our wise resident physician once told me: “Most people would rather spend on treatment than prevention—because we don’t value what hasn’t yet gone wrong.” That really stuck with me.
My dad had a saying for it in Hokkien, albeit he is not medically trained, which roughly translates to: “Only when diarrhoea comes, then you rush to find the toilet.”
There Is No Pill for Immortality – Only Daily Choices
There’s no magic pill to fix years of neglect. Even in a world powered by AI, there is no substitute for your own daily choices. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a miracle. You just need a starting point.
My health has improved significantly over the past two years. I no longer have those conditions, though I’m still working on my body composition. I didn’t get here with shortcuts. I got here by showing up, staying consistent, and respecting the process.
Avoid turning your health journey into a short-term war. This isn’t about 30-day detoxes or crash diets. Health is an infinite game. You don’t stop at 90 days. You keep going, because your life keeps going.
Your health is the silent partner in your wealth journey. When it declines, so does your ability to create, serve, and provide.
Start Today. Invest in Your Health Like You Would Your Wealth.
Think about it: we understand the power of compounding when it comes to money. The same applies to health. Small, consistent actions, taken daily, build powerful results over time.
Drink more water. Take the stairs. Sleep a little earlier. Get that check-up you’ve been putting off. Bring your family out to nature. Start moving your body. All of it counts.
The Slight Edge principle tells us that success isn’t built in dramatic moments – it’s built in the quiet, daily decisions behind the scenes.
So here’s the question we should all ask:
What small commitment can I make today so that my future self, family and legacy will thank me for?
Because whether it’s your finances or your fitness, the best time to start investing… was yesterday. The second-best time? Right now.
Stay tuned for the next part of this series, where we explore the real cost of “waiting until it’s too late” and how to align your financial planning with your health goals.
