Life Review Time.

There are times where we are forced to sit and think about our lives, to evaluate what might be unbalanced.

When you are stricken with illness suddenly, this can certainly be one of those times.

This past week I’ve been sick, and have been very frustrated about it, wishing I could just feel better – not only because I was sick of feeling miserable, but so I could get back to getting things done.

The truth is, though, I had hit a wall. I knew I was being told to take it easy, but I was not feeling right about it because I still had a lot on my plate. People were finally approaching me to do artwork for them, and I had a pretty big stack building on my “to do” list. But I was feeling stagnant. WHY? I was wondering… and was very frustrated about it. Then I finally got hit with a MEGA bad cold which wiped me out for almost a whole week.

I finally took the hint.

I decided, Okay. I guess I need to just tell myself I’m taking “sick time” until I feel well, and really focus that time on getting well again… drinking hot tea and eating oranges all day, laying on the couch watching “Lost” episodes on Netflix. There were things that popped up which I had to work my sick time around… I suddenly received a response from a job application I submitted, and needed to come in to exhibit my skills at a workshop. Luckily no speaking involved, because my voice was gone, anyway. I also had committed already to help at the school Book Fair. There were things I had to let go of, like one of my son’s baseball games… and working on basically anything for myself, and even Facebook.

Shutting down for a few days really helped me to grow a fresh appreciation for feeling WELL again, and helped teach me which things in my life were most important. It also reminded me that I had been overdoing it with personal stress, which I know is one of the reasons my body was so susceptible to this nasty cold/flu. This happens way too often. You’d think I’d learn by now.

I like that this is the card that came up today, because it allows me to tell about my experience this week, and can be a good reminder to you to take a look at your own life right now. Ask yourself what might be out of balance for you in a serious way. Are you putting too many small priorities to the top of your list? What is REALLY most important right now?

The little things can wait, if you feel they are adding to overwhelm.