Every now and then, maybe once or perhaps twice a year, I get sick with a cold or something that might take me out of the flow of life for a few days. If you know me, you know that I absolutely HATE being sick. When it’s a strong bug, I usually cry for my mom–though M is a decent second-best. 😉 Generally, I just don’t like being put off my usual rhythm and flow. 

This year, I thought I had fought off the bug that was going around town knocking people out for two weeks or more. Then, the day we were leaving to go skiing, I had a little cloud start to form in my head that suggested something was coming. I shrugged it off.

Well, two days later, after hitting the slopes in both a figurative and actual fog, my body lost the fight and here I am nearly two weeks later still trying to rid the goopy mucus from my sinuses and return my voice to its usual tone. 

My immune system has always been fairly strong, but once something gets a hold of me it usually wipes me out for the count. My husband’s favorite retort when he tells me that he’s starting to feel sick is to imitate me in a less flattering voice, “You better not give it to me!” This is because when he gets sick first, he somehow morphs it into some kind of superbug that knocks me flat. Generally, it doesn’t happen the other way around.

So, fortunately, I caught this cold first. I imagine I got it from being in town quite a lot recently visiting with friends for coffee, lunch, or just doing various activities. The winter season is always dreary and being indoors, kiss-greeting everyone makes it a great petri dish for the germs. You can imagine how this supports my anti-social and semi-hypochrondriac tendencies.

Still, one cannot live in a vacuum or in isolation–despite my regular protests.

Interestingly, the brain fog that I usually get from being ill has not completely prevented me from productivity as it can sometimes do. Instead, I have to say, I have been unusually productive in my writing pursuits. Of course, not going out of the house for my usual activities is one reason. However, the gentle fog that hovers feels sort of like a helmet for concentration. I suppose this is what it feels like to have metaphorical blinders on. 

Over the past week, I have written about 25 pages of my novel (part of that was to complete my last mentor packet for feedback, but I’m counting it!), scheduled a Substack post, started a new manuscript project, written twice on my blog here, regularly journaled, meditated almost daily, and connected with a friend to start yet another potential venture. I’d say that is pretty dang productive for a cold-rattled brain! 

Not wanting to tempt fate, I still do prefer to be in full health rather than blowing mucus out of my nose, clearing my throat, or trying to unblock my ears. 

What has come out clearly from this nearly-two-week period is a confirmation that I am better focused when I have multiple projects on the go. While I am fully committed to finishing my current fiction novel, and I have plenty more percolating after this one, I am also not going to put other things on hold since it seems to impede rather than motivate. 

So, while I ponder on some other revelations that percolated to the forefront of my mind, I am giving gratitude for this brief period of being ill. There truly is a first for everything!

~T 🔥🐉♋️