On April 12, 2022 I came down with Covid-19. This is my Journey through the physical and emotional ups and down of having this virus. I now realize that it wasn’t the first time that I had Covid-19. When the world was really starting to hear about Covid there was a large group of Americans who were diagnosed with severe flu symptoms that they now believe to be Covid-19. The virus was so new they weren’t sure if and how long it had been in the U.S. and there were definitely no testing kits that early in the pandemic. I always thought maybe I had covid then but after having it recently I suffered from the same exact symptoms. I felt like a mack truck ran over me basically. Since I was still recovering from surgery my immune system was weak and it made me very susceptible to the virus. If you listen to my podcast I talked about being a juror on a Jury. I believe this is where I caught Covid. Yes, you got it, I was doing my Civic Duty as a Citizen and caught covid from sitting in that Jury Box for three weeks. So much for good Karma by being a juror.
There is no need for me to go into my three days of major sickness and the two weeks that it took to finally test negative. It’s the weeks after that which have really stuck with me. No sense of smell, low energy and very tired. I am finally starting to claw my way back to reality and my daily routines. I have to tell you My Journey with Covid Omicron really knocked the shit out of me. I am literally the last person to reach a destination because I walk too slow. I lose my breath easily and I can fall asleep sitting up. Yes, it would have become very easy for me to get depressed and stay in bed. But, well that’s just not me and what I represent. So I am fighting everyday to battle the fatigue.
I also wasn’t going to let this recovery effect me and how I would enjoy my favorite Season of Summer. In the past two weeks I have begun to Smell Summer in the air. The glorious smells of the pavement after a summer rain, the sun and heat on my skin, how refreshing it is to enter an air conditioned room and feel the coolness on my skin after being outside. The smell of chlorine, the smell of the sea air and the sand between my toes. I Smell Summer all around me. Friends of mine decided that we would start Summer off with a local girls weekend away. What a great and therapeutic way to get Summer started.
Sitting on the beach, under an umbrella, lounge chair holding me up, the sound of the ocean waves in my ear and the sand between my toes. I began to think about the meaning of Summer. I believe it is so important to set Summer Goals for yourself. I recognize that these goals are very personal and very different from your peers. Have you ever thought, “What does Summer mean to me?” These thoughts gave me the basis for how to pull myself out of my Journey with Covid and how I could personally make the most of my summer. The facts are you don’t need or require a life changing event to happen to you to set Summer Goals for yourself. I believe it is imperative that we all set goals for ourselves. It’s like the Table of Contents in a book or an outline that you might write. These actions create a formula for you to follow so that your Summer is everything that you intend it to be. Focus on the coping skills and Summer Activities that you know you love and that you would benefit from by participating in. Some of these activities take planning so I suggest that you start this process now. There is nothing more disappointing then seeing there are no vacancies or that Broadway Show that you want to see in NYC has no available seats. If finances are an issue there is no excuse not to create Summer Goals for yourself. When you take the time you can identify many Summer Activities cost little to no money. Remember the beach and the ocean are totally free. Libraries have any book that you would like to get lost in for free. Museums in Washington D.C. are free. Having a picnic by a lake is free. Start to create your personal list of Summer goals right now. There have been many Summers in the past where I knew there were things I wanted to do but because I didn’t plan I never accomplished a lot of my goals.
As a Recreational Therapist I also firmly believe that Summer requires some consistency in your daily routines. Identify the same way that you would like to start your day and end your day during these warm and exhilarating months. Sit with yourself for some time and think about how you would like your mornings and evening to start and end. Personally, I love to start my day with positive morning quotes, a good cup of coffee and sitting outside on my covered patio, My evenings wind down with self-care by having consistency in my skin care routines. This routine takes care of my skin and sends the message to my brain that it is time to wind down for the day so that I can have a successful night of sleep. Your routines can be very simple or very in-depth. I guarantee that these actions will create a healthy and productive atmosphere for a Summer full of fun, relaxation and a lot of self-improvement.
My Summer Goals are set and just thinking about it puts a huge smile on my face. Bye Bye Covid I am done with you taking over my daily lifestyle. I will continue to claw my way back and maybe in the end I will have acquired new and exciting skills that improve my life on a daily bases.
I see the ocean waves rolling up onto the shore with its white caps. I smell the salty air run through my nose and the salt on my skin. Oh I can’t forget the sound that I hear from the ocean. I hear laughter, splashing around, the engines from the wave runners, the wind whipping the umbrella around over my head, sunscreen on my skin, fruity frozen drink in my hand and a book resting on my lap. The pureness and innocence of Summer. Create the scene in your mind and begin to Smell Summer and envision all of the amazing accomplishments you can participate in this Summer of 2022. Summer Lovin’
POSITIVE THOUGHTS CREATE POSITIVE ENERGY
GO OUT AND EXPLORE ALL OF THE WIDE OPEN SPACES IN YOUR WORLD
CIAO,
Ilise
