Happy to be Healthy

Last week was rough. Really, really rough. 

Easter, don't get me wrong, was fabulous. I enjoyed having quality time with my family and I gleefully ate past the point of discomfort, but everything went downhill after that.

Monday was overwhelmingly stressful. And when I didn't think the day could get worse, it did. (That's what I get for thinking that, right?!) It became horribly, painfully bad, as in all-night-stomach-flu bad. It was so bad (for me), in fact, that I called in sick to work for the first time in nearly three years, shocking all of my coworkers with my absence. (I'm notoriously stubborn about missing work, and have been known to go to work with colds, flu, coughs, sore throats, appendicitis, etc., but that's a blog post in itself.)

So there was that. And while it was horrendously awful, it did pass relatively quickly. I felt well enough to go back to work the following day, but I spent the rest of the week struggling to do all the things I usually do every day without thought or effort...like getting out of bed in the morning, getting dressed, eating without disastrous consequences, going to work, getting through the workday, and working out when I get home. 

My energy was zapped and my appetite was nonexistent. (I'm sure there's a connection.) In fact, eating became the biggest challenge. I think it was partly psychological (fear of vomiting), but my usual hearty appetite disappeared and food that I loved days earlier became repulsive. (Before this illness, I ate hummus on whole-wheat bread every day for lunch, for example. Now, I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to stomach (literally!) the taste or smell of hummus again.)

Happily, my appetite is back...with a vengeance! I never thought I'd be so thankful for the desire to eat everything in sight. But days of woefully seeking something (anything!) I could eat without gagging have brought me to that place of gratitude.

I also have a renewed appreciation for having the energy to work out six days a week, which has often felt like an odious task, but now feels like a privilege. I'm thankful for a young, strong, healthy body that allows me to do what I need to do and most of what I want to do.

 I've realized that some days are wonderful not because wonderful things happen, but because you appreciate all of the mundane things that you usually take for granted.