Last week - in “What do you say when you talk to yourself?” - I wrote about language and words and meanings. About how we talk to ourselves.
About the way we frame our experiences.
I’ve had to put that in practice these past few days, as I’ve been pretty sick. I’m slowly getting better. And I’ll be fine soon enough.
In light of having to slow down, rest, and take a break from normal activities, I’ve been thinking of the word “convalesce.”
From Merriam-Webster, the definition for convalesce is:
“to recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness”
For me, the word “convalesce” brings up images of characters from Victorian-era stories. They’re sitting in beautiful gardens with tea trays nearby and blankets on their laps.
That’s a romanticized view, to be sure. And also, with recent musings about reframing, it makes me think. Certainly, when in pain, it’s hard to entertain gentler images of convalescence. Yet once the worst of illness passes, why not make that period of recovery as pleasant as possible.
Today, I spent much of the day in the backyard, drinking coffee or water or tea, resting my feet in the grass, eating a light lunch, talking to my husband and daughter, reading, journaling, watching the birds. Taking comfort in ways I could, amidst the discomfort of being ill.
However you’re feeling this weekend, I hope you too have found comfort in your days.
I’ll be back next Sunday with a longer post. Be well!
With care and gratitude,
Mary
Glad you’re on the mend, Mary. And, glad you still took the time to write this short post. Take care!❤️
Ha! I was thinking you were going to write about how you had to have a talk with yourself in order to talk yourself into resting! (e.g. If I don't have COVID or a broken rib or pneumonia, I should work.) LOL. You were inspirational to me in combatting the voices in my head that were telling me I needed to work while my body was definitely telling me to rest and rest and rest and rest some more. For me, it's always easier to pep talk others. I am, however, getting better at pep talking myself into listening to my body. Oh, those voices!
When I did go back to work I had a conversation with a co-worker that opened up a whole other avenue of thinking - my beliefs about illness. Somewhere down the line (likely early on) I came to the strange belief that NOT getting sick proved something about my strength. Consequently, getting sick proved the opposite about my strength. And, of course, strength is the desirable attribute/character trait. In this scenario weakness might be the opposite of strength. And, in this type of belief system there seems to be culpability. If I were stronger I wouldn't be sick, therefore it is my fault that I am sick. Such an unhappy, unhealthy (dare I say, "sick") narrative! Luckily I have grown out of that belief, mostly. I still need support in combating the voices in my head that insist on sneaking in there to convince me.
Thank goodness I have so many allies! Thanks, Mary, for being one of the best!