Today I’m writing my post from underneath the covers in my bed. The air is blasting and it feels so good. It won’t last. I’m sick.

One minute I’m absolutely freezing, the next I’m sweating. And in this gross cocoon of sickness, with tissues strewn about my bed, I’ve had 3 epiphanies: 


1. My dad is right. He usually is. My dad always says he doesn’t like to plan further than a few days ahead because whenever anything is planned, life finds a way to screw it up. I always thought that was pretty cynical, but right now I barely feel like a person so I’m okay with being a little cynical. See, I had my whole weekend planned out. I had a lot of writing to do, I had a lot of ideas, and I was so excited. But then life hit me. I got sent extra work from my editing job with a note that it needed to be done as soon as possible. I had to go to a wake. I got sick. So here I am, taking on a rather pessimistic perspective and saying my dad is right.

2. I am very lucky to be working with and taking classes for professors who are incredibly understanding. I’ve been sick for the past few days and even though I’ve been doing work every day anyway because I’d feel guilty if I wasn’t, I also know that my professors would be extremely understanding if I had to email them and ask for a slight extension with assignments or explain that I needed to miss class or whatever it may be. I know that my friends in their nursing programs, with professors who don’t even know their names, have to power through even when they’re sick because their professors couldn’t care less. I remember in high school teachers never understood when anyone was sick. It didn’t matter how well a teacher knew you, it was like when you got sick you were suddenly this person who couldn’t be trusted. As if handing in an assignment a few days late because we needed rest was the epitome of being a bad student. Teachers either thought students were just lazy and faking being sick, or they actually did believe we were sick but maintained the belief that it wouldn’t have been an issue if we started our assignments earlier. Even with doctor’s notes, I rarely had teachers that cared or understood. With responses like those to things like the flu or a stomach virus, I can’t even imagine what it’s like for students with mental health issues. In college I’ve definitely had a few professors whose lack of understanding was astounding, but, for me at least, it’s been a rarity. Most of my professors are very understanding, and I am very grateful.

3. Moms are magic. Plain and simple. After two sleepless nights where it didn’t matter how tired I was because my throat was hurting so bad and I was coughing so much I simply couldn’t sleep, my mother managed to fix my pillows in such a position at 6 in the morning that I actually slept until 1:30 pm. When she came into my room I was utterly delirious, incredibly tired, and beyond frustrated. Within 20 minutes she had me fast asleep. Magic.