Last year I went through heart treatment.

It took up a large part of the year, but the treatment was successful, and this year I started working again as a chef aboard an expedition ship in the Arctic.

I am not getting younger, but hopefully I am getting wiser.

A couple of days ago, after work, I sat down to relax when I suddenly felt a cramp-like pain in my chest.

I lay down, and after a while it subsided.

The next day I decided to tell my closest colleague and the captain what had happened. Just so they would know. I also contacted my doctor.

And here's the thing.

Some years ago, I probably wouldn't have told anyone.

I would have pretended that everything was fine. If I was in pain, nobody needed to know.

Apparently, I am getting wiser.

And I discovered something else.

People are remarkably kind when we allow them to help us.

For that, I am deeply grateful.