There comes a time in every person’s life when they must pause, reflect, and ask themselves a simple but powerful question: Am I treating my priorities first?
Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first Africa-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet.
Chuck Abuadinma is the Executive Director of Action Healthcare Service in Baltimore, Maryland.
Too often, we allow the noise of life, the expectations of others, and the endless distractions of our environment to pull us away from what truly matters. But the journey toward growth, fulfillment, and inner peace begins the very moment we decide to honor the commitments that sit closest to our hearts.
Treating your priorities first is not an act of selfishness—it is an act of self-respect. It means recognizing that your goals, your mental well-being, your responsibilities, and your purpose deserve the highest seat in your life.
When you give your energy to what truly matters, everything else begins to fall into place with greater clarity and balance.
The more you pour into your real priorities, the more you realize that life becomes not easier, but more meaningful, more organized, and more aligned with who you are becoming.
There will always be obstacles—financial setbacks, emotional hardships, discouragement, unexpected challenges, and moments where you may feel like giving up. Yet even in those moments, treating your priorities first gives you direction. It reminds you that progress is not always loud, and success is not always immediate. What matters most is that you show up every day with intention, with discipline, and with the belief that your dreams are worth the sacrifice.
As you move forward, remember that your life is shaped by the choices you make consistently. Prioritizing your goals is choosing the future over the past. Prioritizing your responsibilities is choosing growth over delay. Prioritizing your purpose is choosing strength over doubt. When you protect your priorities, you protect your destiny.
So today, choose to honor what is most important. Choose to silence the distractions. Choose to believe in the value of your time, your gifts, and your journey. Choose to rise above excuses and walk boldly into the life you are capable of building.
Because the truth is simple: When you treat your priorities first, your life will begin to change—one decision, one action, and one breakthrough at a time.
