I am home at last, and to celebrate here is my top 10 list of things I learned from my recent stay in hospital.
1. The hospital food in the hospital I had my babies in, really was ‘good hospital food’. I questioned it at the time however now I can say for a fact, it was gourmet.
2. Hospital robes hanging just off the shoulder can be sultry and sexy when looked at from the right angle.
3. Time and space for reflection and body renewal are a requirement in life. How you get them is your choice. You can have control over it, and build it into your life by manipulating and re-stacking your already chaotic world. Or you can be forced into it by getting yourself so run down you are confined. I prefer the former.
4. Life is not a marathon. Life is like fine wine and beautiful food. It is to be savoured and enjoyed. Then allow yourself to lick the plate clean. Pace yourself. You will get to where you want to go if you stay focused but enjoy the ride along the way.
5. How to hoik up a lurgy like a true professional. It’s true, I was shown by a Pulmonary Doctor person whose job it is to show people how to collect sputum samples. It’s disgusting. Sadly in my case, necessary. Enough said.
6. Despite this adversary, my family and I are richer, and so unbelievably appreciative for this gift we have of living this life and we would not change our choice to be here. Even though our closest and oldest friends are at home across the sea. Our new tribe here is just as amazing, reliable, trustworthy and kind. They make our lives extra sparkly and we all love sparkly stuff.
7. Starbucks make an awesome cup of English Breakfast Tea. The normal tea is pretty average. Lettme at those giant sized EB tea bags.
8. I always have been, and always will be, a control freak. However I am on the eternal journey to manage my mad desire to compartmentalize and understand every little teensy thing in my life. When I stop being stubborn – yes SB I know I am one of those – I actually am okay letting go of the reigns. For a short time.
9. Don’t stop reading books. Proper books, you know with covers, actual pages that smell delicious. Don’t forget how good it feels to have your hands wrapped around a curled up pile of beautiful storytelling. I am using Kindle these days and I love how cheap it is, but I hate how it lacks intimacy. Blah. Good for travel but for goodness sake, someone get me a book I can get a paper-cut on.
10. When you have been feeling ill for such a long time that you just start believing it is normal – it isn’t. Pay closer attention to your body, honor and respect it. You only get one and personally I don’t want to end up being a head in a jar like on Futurama.
Did you learn anything from a stay in hospital?