Friday, January 30, 2015

Taking My Own Advice

I can't remember the last time I was "actually sick."  I can't remember the last time I called in sick to an employer and burned any leave time.  It's entirely possible that it has been more than  six (6) years.  The problem is not that I have a cold.  Or that I "actually called in sick."  The problem is that I have to openly admit that generally I ignore the advice I shell out liberally to athletes, and not just the ones with whom I have the pleasure of working.  

I suck (in all capital letters - SUCK) at missing a work out, or staying home on the couch with my Fluffies, and taking care of the body in a non-physical way.  Generally, I adopt the attitude of "if I'm not coughing, and if the fever isn't too high" then SUCK IT UP Buttercup and move forward.  Now, let me be clear - the "sickest" I've been in years is a brutal round with a cold that hung around for a while due to my asthma.  Yeah.  It sucked.  But, I pushed through and only felt "down" for four days or so.  I often wonder if I would just take a day and sleep a bit extra, if the cold would be on it's way more quickly.

So, this week, Wednesday to be exact, when I felt the cold teasing me I decided to listen to The Coach in me.  I set my alarm for AFTER work out time, and told myself that if I had not slept well, or felt chills I would REALLY and TRULY call in and stay home on the couch.  The Super Sherpa/Hubby took care of #BoyWonder, brought me lemonade mix for my cure all, and made dinner.  I huddled under a fluffy blanket, and shortly thereafter went to bed.

Thursday morning dawns and I have not slept as well as I would have liked, but I would be "okay" if I had to go to the office.  Then I got out of bed and felt like I was freezing.  I went out to the couch, so I could see my boy off to school and then called the office.  Admittedly, I thought maybe I might make it by lunch time.  Nope.  I lay down on the couch, got the fluffy blanket and four-footed fluffies and proceeded to doze through a couple of episodes of Blue Bloods.  I snacked some and drank a TON of hot, strong Country Time lemonade with cinnamon sticks  (my go to cure all for colds).  I managed to let the dogs out, get a shower, and sit in the sun on our new really comfy deck chair cushions.  By dinner time I felt better and thought surely I was past the worst.  The the cough began.

I despise that dry, bothersome, asthma-like bark that I get as my body is past the "sick and fever" and is trying to loosen the chest back up.  What a pain...!  And this is when it always SOUNDS like I'm sick, but am truly past it.  So, I set my alarm, AGAIN, for after work out time, and got up for coffee as usual.  I felt pretty normal. Got ready and headed into the office.  The cough stayed at bay until just past lunch, and then went all Emeril on me:  kicked it up a notch.  Bah, humbug!  I hydrated so much I thought I might float away for a while.  Now the cough is subsiding a bit and we shall see what the evening holds in store.

There is a 50th Birthday dinner on the calendar for this evening that I feel compelled to back out of - it's not fair to the Birthday Girl or the other guests.  And, there a long run tomorrow.  That's pretty easy - I can always move that to Sunday.  Not the end of the world.

So there you have it.  I took my own advice.  For a change.  In the grand scheme, one day is nothing.

Coaches for a Cause

Mac's "SwimSTRONG" Foundation

Mac's "SwimSTRONG" Foundation
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