Well, it happened.
Both DH and I went down for the count.
Me first. Him after. Thank goodness the kids are both well.
While in that 24 hours of nausea, shivers and complaints, I was useless — of absolutely zero value. But now that it’s gone, I’m able to look back with a refreshed vision to see what really went down.
The night it came on, I was reading about Saturn transits. Robert Hand had written that if you don’t give yourself the attention you need it will be forced on you…with sickness. This is exactly what happened.
The 24 hour stomach bug take-away.
1. My Body Has A Voice. It Needs To Be Honored.
I thought I was doing this…practicing yoga and all –> I don’t try to take peacock pose when I’m not up for it etc…But what I haven’t been so good at is going to sleep when I’m tired. And eating for health and wellness rather than just to shove something into my stomach. My nutrition has suffered because I’ve been too lazy to fix a proper meal. And somehow, eating a bar for lunch became okay. Newsflash: Bars for lunch are not okay. And taking 5 or 10 mins to throw together a real meal isn’t going to put me in the weeds. As for the sleep bit…I need to go to bed earlier. Since I cherish my early AMs of me time, I must get the proper zzzs the night before.
2. Routines Change. Life Happens.
I hadn’t realized what a creature of habit I’ve become. Waking up with my coffee and journal has become my thing, and when I finally got out of bed with my stomach bug the last thing I could drink was coffee. And my brain wasn’t functioning well either, so writing was out of the question. I puttered around for awhile, clueless on what to do with my sick body. Ultimately, I ended up on the couch. Then back in bed. Though I listened to my body…I didn’t feel like myself. I just wanted coffee, or something to remind me of who I was — something from my routine to let me know I was still me. I felt a lost. Until I remembered, I am not my routine. And it’s all changing anyways, so I need to be able to adapt and go with the flow. It’s what’s happening on the inside that determines who I am, not the other way around.
3. I Am Not Superwoman.
I’m a do-er. So when this wrench got thrown into my plan, I felt screwed–a perfectly good work day gone to waste. The guilt was too much to handle as my mind raced What about that article due? and How about writing that blog post? When I realized my mind was incapable of creating coherently I went to the next tier of tasks, tallying up my receipts for taxes. But I couldn’t get myself to do that either. As noted above, I ended up in bed, and I eventually came to accept that I wouldn’t be accomplishing anything that day. And that was ok. There was something comforting about letting myself off the hook. I don’t have to do everything all of the time.
4. Tending To My Needs Matters.
It wasn’t until later, once the kids were back from school, and I had to kick into gear for them that I came to appreciate the day I had…lying in bed, sleeping, and tending to my needs. I can’t be of much use to anyone else if I can’t even take care of myself.
5. Be Grateful.
Somehow, it always comes back to this. Life is short. Enjoy the good times + good health when they’re there. And take the other times for the lessons that they are.
What insights have you had from being under the weather?
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I hate getting sick! It affects the way I feel about myself. But experience has taught me that once I cancel what I have to and yield to the bacteria or viruses, rest and get better, I always get back to “me” eventually. So when temporary illness strikes I try to let the guilt and self deprecation go, TRY to be patient until I feel better, and most of all concentrate on the word TEMPORARY since that’s something to be grateful for. I follow what you eloquently stated in your post.
Thank you, Elysha!
What terrific insights, Elysha–thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. I do hope you are feeling fab now. Take good care of yourself, my friend (see #1 and 4 :)). x x
GGW, that really is the best way to get better –> yield to the sickness — which is not an easy thing to do for such a to-doer like myself. And I agree that being patient + kind to yourself is key….good words to follow in sickness and health!! Thank you!
Much, much better now, ST, Thank you. And thanks for popping in with your support. I so appreciate it!
I have learned the hard way that how we treat our whole body comes back to us. Hope you are feeling better 🙂
Oh my goodness! I could have written this:). Yes, sickness is a harsh teacher, isn’t it? But such wisdom in those lessons. You’ve given me the nudge I need this week. Haven’t eaten a proper meal . . .
Wise words, Michele — thank you!
It’s so much easier to grab something on the go, isn’t it? Though eating a proper meal really does feel more satiating– on so many levels. Thanks, Kay!