What I learned when I had COVID

I was lucky enough to catch a relatively mild case.

I still had to cancel everything, despite so much planning, scheduling, on-going projects, mid-stream deliverables, and appointments. Sometimes conditions catch up with you, and you can't move. I had to accept my reality. What did I learn?

So many things! Reminders to focus on what matters, and appreciate what I have.

Firstly: I realized that no matter how much effort went into planning, if you need to cancel you can. Denying reality only makes a situation worse.

Secondly: Being able to breathe, to walk, and move comfortably became a joy again after recovering. It's easy to breathe and not think about it. Every breath is a blessing, and suffering can be a reminder to appreciate the joys available in the present. That's not the same as wanting to suffer, rather I wish I could actively appreciate everything that I have without having to experience loss.

Thirdly: Slow down, life isn't a competition. Being alive is already winning. You won't get to perfect everything in this lifetime. Achievements and responsibilities inevitably bring more demands, and we all end up balancing between pressures to do more and to rest, to save and to burn. It's OK to go the speed you need to keep going, to be comfortable. Requests generally come in faster than they can be handled in real-time, but they can be documented, prioritized, and addressed in the order of what's most critical every day and every minute. Coming back online while still recovering, I had to accept the pace of what I could do, how much rest I needed, and remember to prioritize my calm. Anything less hurts your immune system, your concentration, and your mental health.

Between the work, there exists self-care. And vice versa -- only between moments of necessary self-care, can we be available to work. Pausing, contemplating, taking a step back -- these are often the most productive moments in the toughest situations, when solutions manifest instead of panic.

Hopefully this was helpful in your journey today, thanks for reading!