For the past few days, I have been fighting an inconvenient cold that seemed also to appear in conjunction with allergies to my new roommate’s cats. I can’t say it was all bad, though, for when I am struck by such symptoms, it is the perfect occasion for eating chicken pho, which I believe to be a spiritual activity.
One of the downsides of being sick is that it can slow us down when it comes to goals, intentions, and things we’d like to do. For me, I had intended to record a video blog with each new blog in 2019. I’ve already written one blog this month (two if you count this one), and still haven’t recorded a video blog this year (yet).
But slowing down can also be one of the upsides of being sick. It can force us to be more thoughtful, meditative, and ironically, more intentional.
It’s interesting to observe my behavior as I’m dealing with the discomfort and low-energy levels that accompany a head cold. Sometimes sleep doesn’t come when I expect it, and sometimes it overtakes me in the middle of the day. Around these odd spells, I might be tempted to simply tune out in front of a movie. Kill the time until the next wave knocks me out. But I’ve been pulled in a different direction this time.
My new room is still a mess – there is an open suitcase on the floor, bins and boxes that haven’t yet been sorted for lack of shelves or a desk. But my keyboard, always the first to be set up, stands in the corner, plugged in and always ready to be played. My MacBooks – both of them – have word processors with which I can write. So I really have no excuses, do I?
It seems that even in the throes of life’s inconveniences, we can still find the means to be creative. We can unplug and disengage, sure. There’s always another movie to watch, another video game to be played, another Facebook post to read. And sometimes we just don’t have the time, or the energy. But is that really true? Or can we find a part in there, however small, that knows what to do?
I’m not talking about writing a novel or a symphony. I’m just trying to relate something that’s occurred to me. I believe that we all secretly want to make something. So, what better time? If not now, then when? If not when we’re sick, tired, hungry, angry, lonely, or sad, then when?
One could argue that the inconvenient times are actually the best times!
Praying you will soon be feeling better!🙏
I totally understand how much allergies can affect us. My daughter has 3 cats, & I’m now taking 3 allergy medications instead of one. After getting a release from my doctor, I plan to go back home in about a week, so I’ll get some relief from my allergies 🥰