On being busy or sick or both

Life has been sort of a whirl lately.  A busy whirl.  There have been good and exciting things happening but sometimes even good and exciting things tire you out.

Then I got sick.

Not life threateningly sick or even too incapacitating, but sick enough to tire me out.

Here's what happened in the interim.

My bedroom which at best always seems to have some clutter or other lurking around, has become frightening.  When I was busy, I didn't have time to deal with it.  When I was sick, I didn't have energy.  It is slowly sucking the joy out of my life.  You can only skirt your way around clutter for so long.

I have dropped several balls. I forgot (twice) to pay Emma's girls' camp registration.  I haven't answered email as timely as I'm accustomed to doing.  I have had colliding schedules because my brain has been foggy.  It is slowly sucking the joy out of my life.  You can only apologize and apply triage to your life for so long.

Here's what I've learned.

I was reminded again of how grateful I am for my health.  What a blessing it is to have energy and strength.

I have had to apply careful priorities.  This is an ongoing requirement and a skill that needs constant honing for me.

I feel tremendous gratitude for patient and kind people who forgive me for messing up (again) and for being messy (again).

I aspire to be the kind of person who gives someone the benefit of the doubt.  Too often I sigh (inwardly or out loud) when I feel like someone is not measuring up.  Here's the thing, though.   You never know when they've been busy.  Or sick.  Or both.