Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In short, what goes up, must come down. It's not surprising then that I’ve spent the last week glued to the couch with some kind of horrendous illness after spending the last few weeks gallivanting around the country as a freshly minted professional speaker.
Unfortunately everything comes at price, and the more energy you spend the more you’re going to have to recover later on. I tried really hard not to get sick when I got home but once my throat started to get scratchy and my body started aching for no reason I knew I was already on ride so I’d better just buckle in do my best to lessen the impact with a steady stream of paracetamol and ibuprofen.
I’m a terrible patient. Being unwell is the most frustrating event that can happen to me so not only am I poorly but I’m also cranky due to my inactivity. I tried to make the most of it by catching up on some programs but I kept falling asleep and waking up as the end credits were rolling. Poor Matt has pretty much been solo parenting for weeks now and I’m sure was looking forward to getting me back on board - instead he has been delivering drinks and medication to my corner of the couch while I micromanage the household from afar.
Our amazingly normal life will return soon babe I promise!
As a harvester of silver linings, what I appreciate about being unwell is the intense waves of gratitude you have when life returns to normal. Waking up and feeling like you can actually get out of bed. Being able to taste my cup of tea in the morning. Having my voice back even if it's still a bit husky. As all these simple pleasures return I’m reminded how wonderful life is when it is just chugging along normally. Our amazingly normal life.
It's been an incredibly exciting couple of weeks for me with lots of events and activities happening. All things I’ve wanted to be part of but getting the balance right is something that I think everyone is striving for. Being stuck at home sick reminded me how much I’d missed hanging out with my family. The kids have loved that I’ve been unwell because they can just snuggle up on the couch and watch TV with me. Some of the best bonding I ever did with my Dad was sitting on the couch and watching nature documentaries together.
It's a happy place for our family normally reserved for Friday night takeaway night so squeezing in a few extra sessions has been a real treat. I’ve also managed to spend a bit of time helping the kids use Canva (design software Mum that I normally detest but have found space for). Both have used the program briefly at school but wanted to download it at home to play some more. I’m suspicious of their motive considering it technically comes under screen time which is very limited during the school week but I’m also a sucker for creativity and the kids have been pumping out posters and flyers like their life depends on it.
Alice's birthday invitation, which is required for May, had so far had 14 different iterations - each more wild than the next. As a graphic designer I've been trying to share some tips about font choice and hierarchy but it falls of deaf ears as she adds a fourth and fifth different font to the layout without a care in the world. They’re having fun which is a great reminder how important play is when being creative. Unfortunately play is one of the first things we sacrifice when you start making a living from your craft.
Being forced to step back from our life this last week has been more frustrating than anything else. Especially after coming back from the Global Speakers Summit brimming with ideas! Perhaps it was the universe making me take a breath before I launch off into the next chapter. We’re always where we’re meant to be so I’ve just got to trust this unexpected week of groggy reflection is all part of it. I needed to be reminded of the importance of fun and play when being creative especially as I embark on my most ambitious creative project yet - writing a book.
