When the Death Pile Becomes a Detour: What Chronic Illness Taught Me About Changing Directions

I started selling on eBay because I could feel my body changing, and not in a good way. I was getting sicker and quietly panicking about what would happen if I couldn’t hold down a traditional job anymore. Reselling felt like a lifeline. It was something I could do from home, at my own pace, with flexibility that didn’t exist in a 9-to-5 world. It gave me hope, purpose, and a way to contribute.

And for a while, it worked.

I sourced inventory, researched what sold well, and got really good at shipping and listing. I saw potential, and I hustled hard. But then my health said, “Not so fast.”

As my symptoms worsened, I had less and less energy to manage it all. I had the inventory, but not the capacity. The listings slowed. My workspace became cluttered. The eBay shelves started to mock me, each one whispering, “We could have been turned into money… if you just had the energy.”

That’s how my death pile turned into a death money pile.

It wasn’t just stuff. It was potential income, a reminder of what I couldn’t finish, and a source of guilt. Chronic illness steals your time, your energy, your clarity. And I was watching my “Plan B” quietly pile up and become a burden.

But here’s the truth: sometimes, the detour is the direction.

Instead of pushing harder, I started paying attention to where I was being pulled. My health journey wasn’t just personal anymore. It was something I needed to talk about. I realized that self-advocacy, encouragement, and chronic illness education were calling to me louder than any ka-ching from a sale.

That’s when MsVix began to shift.

Now, I’m still listing some small, manageable items She’s also helping me prep for an indoor yard sale so I can let go of what no longer serves me physically or mentally. And every item that leaves my house is a piece of pressure off my shoulders.

I’m learning to pivot with grace. To unclench my grip on things I thought I should do. To trust that even when I can’t do everything, I’m still doing enough.

If you’re in the same boat, surrounded by dreams that feel like clutter now, I want you to know it’s okay to change directions. Your health matters more than a storage shelf. Your worth isn’t tied to productivity. And your journey is still valuable, even if it’s not going the way you planned.

We’re still moving forward, friend. Even when it looks like letting go.

Have you ever had to change directions because of your health? Or let go of something you worked hard to build? I’d love to hear your story in the comments or over on my Facebook page.