Proceed With Caution

Knowing When to Take it Slow

Listen to the Signs of Your Body

I apologize for my lack of posting recently but it has everything to do with the subject of this entry. I was hit with a bitch of the flu (excuse my language) I was forced to listen to my body and stay in bed doing absolutely nothing but sleep for a good three days. Now that I am well again I am stressed about the all the class I missed and work that I now need to catch up on. I have every intent on focusing on my work and making a huge dent in it today but in terms of going out and socializing it's time for me to proceed with caution and take it slow. My body has told me that I need to go easy on myself and take a break. In the hopes of not becoming incapacitated with another sickness and continue to progress with school I have every intent of listening to the signs of my body. As we get older getting sick becomes more of an inconvenience than anything else. It no longer carries the thrill of missing school, staying home and watching television, and having my mother dote on me feeding me Campbell's chicken noodle soup and orange juice. I am a big girl living on my own and I need to take care of myself as well as handle all the obligations that now fall on me. Despite the stress and inconvenience that comes with getting sick a part of my remains a bit thankful. I am taking it as a sign that I need to go easier on myself, stay in a few nights, drink a little less, put my energy into my work, take it slow, and proceed with caution as I move forward. I have a two quotes for us, as usual, to accompany the theme of this post: be gentle with yourself and take it slow when need be.

The first quote speaks specifically about being sick and taking on the responsibility of tending to your own needs and helping yourself.

It's flu season! Take care of yourself and stay healthy!

"The patient should be made to understand that he or she must take charge of his own life. Don't take your body to the doctor as if he were a repair shop."

- Quentin Regestein

While Doctor's are fabulous because they are able to diagnose illnesses and provide medicine when necessary we still carry a weight in our own recovery (no matter what from.) Most recently I was sick with the flu and my doctor was very helpful in providing a Z-Pack antibiotic to help me overcome it. But it was up to me to leave my sick bed, pick up the medicine, and take it. However, medicine alone was not going to cure me. I needed to rest, drink lots of fluids, eat even when I didn't want to, and stay in to rest when all my friends were going out. Now that I am well it is up to me to keep myself healthy. I need to continue doing all of these things to take care of myself and recognize what got me sick to begin with and cease to continue that behavior. I was going out too much, stay up too late, not eating enough, and running myself into the ground. I know what these actions will lead to- getting sick again. My doctor cannot monitor me constantly, nor would I want her to, and she can't force me to take the necessary steps to stay healthy. It is up to me. And it is up to you. Recognize when you need to take it slow and realize what you need to do in order to stay healthy and able. 

Slow down when you need to-

The next quote links closely to the first but is less specific in topic and meaning. I chose it because it allows us to think more broadly about the theme and topic of this entry.

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself."

- Jim Rohn

In my specific case today taking responsibility means taking care of my body so that I don't end up getting sick again and am able to complete all my tasks and work that have built up and will continue to mount through the course of this semester. I cannot change that I got sick but I have control over how I handle the repercussions now. And I have the ability to do everything I can moving forward so I don't get slammed again. Circumstances are what they are and things happen that we cannot alter but we can make choices and changes moving forward that give us a little more control over future situations. Today I am almost feeling 100% myself again and I am choosing to take advantage of this feeling of wellness. As soon as I complete this post I am going to buckle down, get started on my late assignments, and then move forward with my work for this upcoming week. I am not going out for a while. I am going to take this time to rest, stay in with Milly, and care for myself. I am choosing to proceed with caution so that I am able to stay well during the rest of this semester. What are you going to do help yourself today and in the future? What has held you back recently? How are you going to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Doctor's, therapists, dentists, and other professionals are there to help us along with our physical and mental health but they can't fix us or carry all the burden. We need to take responsibility and take the proper steps to help ourselves. Don't be hesitant to accept help but always remember that end of the day it is up to you. No one will or can take us by the hand and walk us in the proper direction. As we grow older we are granted fabulous privileges but we are forced to carry new responsibilities as well. The first responsibility we gain is knowing our needs and actively pursuing them in order to care for ourselves. Listen to the signs of your body, proceed with caution when necessary, and treat yourself well. 

Be good to yourself- we have only one body and one life,

xo