I hold up my hands in defense, the accused. It didn’t start with me. I’m innocent—cough, hack, sneeze—I promise!
You see, what happened was… he got sick and then came to work and then he got them sick and then I was sick the first time around, but then the next strand came and she totally spread that which was how I, a mere victim, ended up with the flu in a tight knit work environment resulting in everyone avoiding me, as they say, like the plague.
So, I find myself a derided individual, sequestered at staff meetings, glared at in the cafeteria, and pitied which each sneeze and coughing fit expelled helplessly from the body formerly known as me.
Self-pity aside, I find each time I’m truly sick to be a, while crappy, beneficial experience in contrast. You don’t know how good you usually feel until every muscle and bone in your body feels like they are crumbling under the weight of the universe… or something. The focus you usually waste by being distracted by pings on your phone, well-meaning passers-by, and the futile exercise in multi-tasking suddenly seems like an oasis of productivity that, delirious in the desert, you just… can’t… reach…
And yet, if you’re like me (or my boss, The Woman Behind the Curtain) you can’t always step away from the job at hand even if you are on your proverbial deathbed and at risk of infecting all those around you. Sometimes, just sometimes, there’s stuff you just gotta do yourself—because, workaholism aside, you’re the only one to do it or because the other members of your team too are plagued.
Through the aches, the fog of decongestants, and over the mountain of used tissues I reach my destination: an important task completed.
In a slumped position of repose at my desk, I again reflect on the contrast. In peak condition, I could have karate chopped the task in half and done a jig to boot, but there’s something especially satisfying about not only defeating the project, but having wrung the life out of it despite your own drain.
So, I cheers with my Emergen-C flavored water to me, my coughing colleagues, and those bravely suffering through flu season with us. May we all appreciate wellness a little more, get a little something done, and avoid the flu, if we can, like the plague.
photo credit: © stuartbur– stock.adobe.com

 The Rhythm of Reman is claiming sickness innocence – and doing her best to power through. How do you stay on top when you’re feeling like dirt? Comment below or connect with Andee directly.