It’s winter in Canada and that means a few inevitable things
are happening.
1) It’s terribly cold and there's way too much snow.
2) The Leafs have long since lost any hope of making the
playoffs.
3) 90% of us have been sick.
They're all Canadian traditions really
There is nothing fun about runny noses, sore throats, and
missed days of work. We feel bad and fall behind. We pack back bowls of chicken soup and Cold FX desperately
trying to fight out our way back to being healthy so we can get on with life.
Sickness passed through our home this week (for the third time
this winter) and I was reminded of a few lessons we can only learn when we’re sick.
YOU ARE NOT INVINCIBLE
For those among us that are the highly driven type, we tend to live by the phrase “Don’t worry about me - I’ll be OK”. And while most of the time,
you may indeed be OK, there are clearly times when actually no… you aren’t OK. Even
the strongest and healthiest among us break down every so often. There is an
ugly arrogance to a person who can’t admit a weakness. Sickness is actually a
gift to us in a way. It’s a sign that something isn’t working right inside our
bodies. It’s a message to slow down and allow time for recovery. Athletes that
tend to avoid proper recovery take longer to get healthy and don’t always recover
to 100%. Sicknesses that are cared for with vitamins, rest and comfort food
pass through us more quickly. Instead of false bravado, pretending that you don’t
need to slow down, use that stubborn drive to tackle the recovery process well
and get back to being the real and healthy you.
THE WORLD WILL GO ON WITHOUT YOU
When we do take our selves out of commission, it’s always
amazing to discover that we were never as important as we thought we would be.
There are very few places in the world where we are actually irreplaceable.
Your job probably existed before you, and will more than likely go on after
you. Somebody else probably possesses the same kinds of skills you do, and can
fill in for you. Even if your replacement might do it differently than you,
who’s to say that your way was best in the first place? Don’t stress about
missing a day… or even a week of work if you’re actually sick. The rest of the
world will get by. This isn’t a bad thing either. It’s a free pass from guilt
of taking the time you really need to get better. Besides, your coworkers would
probably rather cover your role and avoid your germs than get sick themselves.
The only place your irreplaceable is probably at home… so stay there until you
get healthy.
YOU ARE LOVED
Speaking of home, when I’m sick, I am always reminded that there
are so many people that love me and care for me. My family goes over and above
to do what they can to make me feel better in the midst of misery. A back rub
and a cup of green tea don’t seem like much when I’m healthy, but they
communicate I love you and hope you feel better soon when I’m stuck on the couch.
A caring email from a friend at work, or someone offering to pick up my slack
remind me that I have a strong network of loved ones that I could rely on when
I really need them. Some people never seem to slow down long enough to let
someone else care for them. Being sick helps remind us that we’re loved.
Being sick still sucks no matter how you slice it.
Maybe we’ll call these the silver lining on a snotty
Kleenex.
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