Post image for Home

A Creative Response to Sickness

Post image for A Creative Response to Sickness

So you’re sick! I’m sick! Now what?

Well we have to deal, don’t we? We try and get more sleep, eat more veggies and maybe lay off the sugar and alcohol…moving on?

Maybe. But what about what we can learn from a period of sickeness? The scientist in me decided to examine the feelings and sensations during my most recent sickness…

Here’s one thing I noticed right away when I started to really pay attention to my body: as I begin to feel lousy, my discipline went out the window. Suddenly I ‘needed’ another coffee, I ‘needed’ the muffin to pick me up, I needed to vegge in front of the tv—all habits which propelled me into full fledged sickness and my body FORCING me to stop.

So a couple suggestions:

  • Don’t get sick in the first place! Find out how here…

  • But when sickness is unavoidable (which it sometimes is no matter how much Immunocal we’re downing!)—speaking as one with a spirited toddler and a demanding job—awaken your scientist and start listening to your body. Examine how it responds to the intruder. When do you first notice the symptoms? (This is about being aware.) Do you feel more irritable? Are your muscles tighter than normal? Throat scratchy? Trouble sleeping? Exhibiting poor self-control? Spacey?

  • And then (and here’s the crux really) respond with integrity. ‘Cause how you respond to the symptoms is key in determining if you will lose ground or beat the illness in a couple days.

    • So get extra sleep…as in go to sleep a couple hours earlier (crazy, but very powerful!); take a nap; take a bath and give your body time to heal.

    • Give yourself a break. Be gentle. The stress of being down on yourself for not operating at peak energy is counter productive. Move forward accepting the reality of the situation and let what is…be. Be kind to your body.

    • At the earliest sensation of sickness, enter your routine (maybe you need to make a routine!): sleep, drink that shot of lemon morning and night, drop sugary snacks/foods, juice, stretch, cultivate a positive attitude.

One blessing of being sick—and yes a blessing—is that we can gain new insight into our bodies—insight we usually ignore or have difficulty sensing because we’re on the go. What is your body maybe missing?

man doing hand stand

  • Veggies
  • Water
  • Love
  • Positivity
  • Movement

What are you indulging that your body maybe needs less of?

  • Coffee
  • Candy
  • Sugar
  • Lots of carbs
  • Alcohol
  • tv

Jot down your insights for when you are well again so that you can learn from this time of sickness.

Here’s what I jotted down:

I begin feeling irritable and my muscles begin to ache. I may feel a bit spacey and have difficulty focusing.
I start my routine. I become vigilant with drinking lemon morning and night to alkalize my body. I swap out my coffee drinking for water. I go to bed earlier. And I eat less, because I have found that by reducing the amount I eat and eating better (more veggies, less sugar), I heal faster. I also take baths, watch a program I enjoy to relax (but don’t over indulge), and give myself permission to sleep in a couple mornings.

We often dread and lament sickness (which won’t help you heal). Consider a different approach next time you’re sick and get conscious of your physical state. And then watch yourself (under a microscope!) get better. This is how I am trying to live these days—taking each situation as necessary; as important pointers to life lessons.

All the best on your own journey…and get better soon!