Navigating Illness

I am currently on day six of battling the flu. Thankfully, not a stomach flu, but pretty much every other symptom a person could experience. It has been a very long time since I’ve been sick to this extent. My best guess would be about 10 - 15 years, outside of the odd minor cold.

This got me to thinking If I do sick any differently now, then I did all those years ago. There has definitely been a shift in my mindset. I have gained experience and the freedom to put more effort into taking care of myself. I am more invested in myself.

Instead of just giving into being sick, I see this as a lesson to some degree in taking a measure of control as I listen to my body, rest and drink lots of fluids, enjoy lots of dog cuddles and spend time outdoors in the fresh air. 

Dealing with all the flu symptoms and not getting a good sleep at night is mentally and physically draining. However, there is only so much doing nothing I can tolerate. So as I've rested and taken care of myself I also looked for and found times where it made sense to push myself a bit. One day was a short walk with the dog, another day some play time out in the yard, or a trip to the dog park. With the sun shine and higher temps mid week I was also able to spend some time raking leaves, getting much needed fresh air. There was also a day I was able to take care of some laundry and a bit of housecleaning, but I still made sure to take things easy and rest lots.

My appetite has also been off so eating has been a bit of a challenge. After doing some research I discovered this is the body’s natural response to fighting infection and illness. Once I understood the why it made sense and I made adjustments to work with my body and eat in a way that would support the recovery process.

My being sick this week is another example of how engrained the pursuit of mastery has become in my life. After years of being on the IHC team my brain has become wired to apply effort, to look for opportunities, recognize the lessons and make adjustments. And the best part of this is - I'm able to pursue mastery while prioritizing my well being.