Finally a Moment to Breathe
For the last ten days, I’ve been sick—sore throat, itchy sinuses, barely able to think straight. But I haven’t stopped moving. I’ve gone to work, changed dirty diapers, and kept writing. Oh boy, have I been writing. On top of that, I’ve had extra staff meetings and an automation and robotics class twice a week from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
It’s been brutal. It’s been difficult. And it has pushed me to my limits. Oh, and I almost forgot—on top of everything, we’ve been hunting for new living arrangements to save money. Simply put, I’ve spent every ounce of energy I had these last ten days. But today feels different. Today is a new day.
The sickness finally seems to be abating. No staff meetings. No extra classes. And I even felt well enough to take my wife and baby out for a little dinner date. The best part? When we got home, I had nothing on the agenda—except writing, of course. That’s a given at this point.
Needless to say, I’m grateful to finally catch a break, even if it’s only for an evening. Tomorrow promises another full day, but at least I’m betting I’ll feel healthy. Thank heavens for that. I never truly appreciate good health until it’s gone, but right now I’m acutely aware of how valuable it is just to feel okay.
During one of my staff meetings earlier this week, the topic was general well-being. Most of it focused on how to watch out for students’ mental health, but some of it touched on us as teachers. They showed us a diagram of a hierarchy of needs—you know the kind: a triangle with the bottom supporting the middle and the middle supporting the top.
At the base of the triangle was “physiological needs”—the foundation for everything else. I nearly laughed as the presenter explained it, while I sat there wiping my eyes and trying not to sneeze. No wonder I felt burned out every day at work—my physiological needs weren’t being met.
But that seems to be turning around now. I’m already starting to feel more like myself, and it’s clear how deeply the physical affects the mental. It’s not fun when you can’t function. If there’s one lesson I’m taking away, it’s this: don’t take seasons of wellness for granted. When I can, I want to seize the day and make the most of it.
That’s why I write every day. Honestly, that’s why I kept working hard even while I was sick. Not because I enjoy moving around while coughing and sneezing, but because I knew it could have been worse. My limits had dropped, but the bar was still set high. That’s a strange realization.
I used to be the kind of guy who took every moment of rest when I was sick. I don’t know if it’s fatherhood or just a shift in mindset, but now I push myself to reach my potential each day.
Hopefully some of you have reaped the fruit of that effort. I don’t know how many people actually read these posts, but I hope some of you find a reason to smile—or at least relate and take something away.
Now, as mentioned, I have a free evening ahead of me, and only one question remains: what will I do with it?
