Changing circumstances had a different agenda for me. You may have noticed that I did not post a blog for a couple of weeks. I had not intended to write while on my hiking trip to Scotland. It was a chance to live in the moment and reflect on future ideas. I planned to jump right back in when I got home.
I consider myself a healthy person, but I fought a chest cold on the trip and eventually succumbed to it. The trip was mostly wonderful, but I had minimal energy the last couple of days. I came home with walking pneumonia. In addition, I jarred my back on one of the hikes and had chronic back spasms that were worse than the pneumonia, especially when I coughed.
I do not mean to have a pity party about my misery. Nevertheless, I did not feel well. I had no energy for sitting at my computer and writing about anything. I am feeling better now and am grateful as my life moves back to normalcy. Having this period of illness and extremely low energy has given me insight into how difficult it is for people who experience acute and chronic illnesses of all kinds.
Although I have minor chronic conditions that are easily controlled by drugs (e.g., hypothyroidism, hypertension, osteopenia), I have seldom experienced prolonged acute conditions. My pneumonia/back condition felt chronic in that I experienced a constant cycle of unpredictable physical pain, fatigue, and mental fog. I looked fine on the outside but was unwell on the inside. I continued my volunteer and social life as I recovered, but it took energy bursts compensated with resting with a heat pack on my back.
I feel better now, although not 100%. I remind myself not to take feeling good for granted. I also appreciate that there is temporary help to regain my health. Further, as I recover, I realize that I need to be patient with myself and take each day for what it is and how much better I feel.
Many people have far greater health challenges than me. I also am reflecting on how I can be most helpful to others as we all aim for a healthy journey through life.
I guess reality checks are good for all of us every once in a while. We get used to our healthy life that is pretty much a gift (but often earned from our own choices and efforts). A set back like you had was hard but hopefully pretty much “temporary”. Like you said, the experience helps us have empathy for folks where that thing going on IS their life. It’s easy to take things for granted until it’s not.
Sorry to hear… totally understand.
Pls be gentle with yourself.