Well-Being

As I sit and write, I am at day four of my first experience with COVID, most likely contracted while in Ireland last week. Ireland is by far the most beautiful country I’ve been blessed to visit.

Here’s what I’m thinking these days. One minute driving around an emerald green countryside with castles and adorable white fluffy sheep. The next minute, knocked to down to my knees. Covid is a mysterious and exhausting virus. I’ve experienced it all…starting with a sore throat then quickly leading to chills, fever, body aches, cough, chest and sinus congestion, fatigue and loss of taste and smell. I’ll be honest. I don’t like it and I pray I’ll be better soon, and I’ve been scared. I don’t do well being sick. I opted not to take Paxlovid, a quick fix remedy that some friends describe as good and others as the worse thing they’ve experienced. Having just been approved after a short trial, I chose to ride this out.

So here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately….what is well-being? I suppose it’s different for everyone. For me, it’s a balance of meeting my spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs. It’s walking through life with less stress and more joy. It’s finding joy in my work so much so that I don’t have to call it work. It’s my quest for meaning, knowing answers will will trickle in. It’s spending time with people I love and care about. It’s setting boundaries, saying no when I could easily say yes. It’s discerning how I really want to spend my remaining years (yikes I just turned 63). In other words, how do I want to spend my precious time? Juggling responsibilities, helping others, or basking in the simple things. Maybe it’s traveling more? One thing is certain the days of over committing and running ragged are over! That happens you know. Your energy does diminish as you age. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

So the question, how do I want to spend my precious time? It’s a tough one, but I’m gaining clarity each day. I had hoped to iron out the wrinkles of my thoughts at a yoga and meditation retreat in the Catskills this weekend, but Covid cancelled those plans. Maybe the universe is telling me the answers are right in front of me. To be still and listen. No concrete conclusions yet, but I know clarity is on the horizon.

How do you define well-being? I’m serious….If you had one year to live, how would you spend your precious time? Is there a way you can take small steps toward that now, rather than later?