Wake Up Call

For the past week I’ve been down with a cold/sinus infection. Today I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although I still do not feel well, I feel so much better than I did! It is amazing what a blessing feeling a bit better is. And paradoxically what a blessing getting sick can be.

My body often shows me when I stray from my personal path of joy by turning up pain levels or getting sick. It’s a little like having my own personal Jiminy Cricket whispering in my ear, “Remember what you said about following your joy? What have you been doing the past few weeks?”

Yup, this was a classic wake up call

It’s funny how a little thing like deciding to help out a friend can be taken too far. Somewhere along the line I began to listen to a lot of “shoulds” and “ought to’s” and ignore my body’s protests. I worked longer hours in the office than I had intended and started feeling responsible for things that were not my responsibility.

Two days a week stretched into three and sometimes four. Photography fell by the wayside. My stress levels rose.

This is a familiar pattern that I’ve repeated countless times.” Fortunately the wake up call was only a cold and sinus infection, not something more serious.

I’m awake again and aware, and mindful that my joy practice is important. Sometimes I need to say “No,” to things that are more than I can do; and when I begin feeling like I’m going back to the “bad ol’ days” I need to pay attention.

Is there a wake up call you need to listen to?

May you walk in beauty.