Friday, July 25, 2014

I'm grateful for my bout of flu

Recently, I've been struck by a very bad case of flu. It comes together with its usual symptoms, like sorethroat, cough, sneezing and fever. My usual treatment is not to see a doctor, but to eat fruits and drink water and sleep like a baby to wait it out.

My philosophy in life is that whatever happens, it happens for the best. It's a better way to live that way instead of playing the victim's role. So, this bout of flu comes in very handy for me. Here's why:



Pikachoooo!


1. I've not been sleeping well. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's some subconscious stress at work, but I've been having a very shallow kind of sleep lately. This recent illness reset all these. I slept like a baby for most of yesterday and the day before. Suddenly my mind seems so clear. If my body's way of resetting my body clock is in a form of an illness, so be it!


2. You realised that you're not so powerful after all. I was clocking work hours like crazy for the past few months, working 7 days a week with weekends clocking 10 hours. I've never had such a long working week before, and for so long a duration. But all these rest on the premise that I've good health. The moment my health deteriorates, I can no longer have the willpower and endurance to do such active work and my income will suffer. That's always the hidden condition when we're doing active work. It's just that during times of illness that we are reminded about it. It also underlines the importance of having another income stream that doesn't depend on you being there to generate money.


3. It just happens that after my lesson yesterday, I'm really feeling nauseous and don't feel like eating my dinner. Thankfully my student brought me some soup that her mum cooked for me. It's a very soothing old cucumber soup, filled with earthy carrots and red dates. I felt much better after drinking that. I'm so thankful that she brought me that, even though I didn't tell her that I'm sick. Couldn't have come at a better time!


Photos taken from masak-masak. Not the actual soup that I drank but close enough!


My wife also treats me like a baby, taking care of me when I'm having a really bad time. Not to mention well meaning friends and students (I'm not sure they are happy that I cancelled their lessons or that they are genuinely concerned about me - I give them the benefit of doubt lol) who asked me to take care. It's a very nice and warm feeling, you know?


See? Being ill isn't all that bad once you think about it eh?

10 comments :

Singapore Man of Leisure said...

Rest well, young jedi warrior.

la papillion said...

Hi SMOL,

That's fast :) I took the day off already so that I can walk further tmr :) Thanks!

Unknown said...

Hi LP,

You probably have spread your flu to your students...

la papillion said...

Hi Matthew,

I try not to but yes, there's a small chance. I took precautions and I'm not sneezing nor coughing anymore when I taught them. I'm just having a fever and a bad sore throat.

They probably spread to me in the first place LOL

Createwealth8888 said...

Self-employed are likely to overwork.

Employees cannot work more than 12 hours per day and more than 44 hours per week.

More than 44 hours can claim overtime or time off.

Investopenly said...

Take care and hope you fully recovered soon. I also tried to avoid seeing doctor for such common cold and flu unless it is very serious...

la papillion said...

Hi bro8888,

Have to make a living right? It's like a farmer - during certain seasons, we have to work doubly hard so that during other seasons, we can relax doubly so. Already accepted it as part of my life, haha

la papillion said...

Hi Richard,

It's a good practice :) Less medication is good :)

B said...

Hi LP

In order not to minimise the chance of spreading it to my wife and son I usually ate some panadol to kill it off soon. I dont take antibiotic though.

Plenty of vitamin c and water and enough rest. Thats the good thing.

la papillion said...

Hi B,

I didn't know that eating panadol can increase the chances of spreading the illness to your family ;)

But seriously, I don't think eating panadol can cure it...so it doesn't affect anything but the symptoms. I think it'll still be as likely to pass the virus around with or without panadol.