I'm sitting here wondering how I could still possibly not be 100% better by now. How can I still feel sick?! I'm SO healthy. I have a reputation to uphold here. Shouldn't I never get sick as a health counselor in nutrition? Believe me. I thought that was the case last year when I finished school.

Flying back and forth to New York every other weekend for seven months. Working as a waitress, a chiropractor's assistant and a dance teacher. Not mention getting my health counseling practice off the ground running. So that's four jobs, a loving relationship, four flights a month and one exhausted health counselor. But I never got sick.

Now, having grown up without the strongest immune system, so much running around in the past would have resulted in getting sick at least a few times over a seven month period at the pace I was going. But I didn't get sick. I began to think that eating right (and getting my central nervous system tuned up by my amazing chiropractor) meant I was never getting sick again. I actually thought I had it figured out.

So why now? Why am I getting sick a year later? I've given up waitressing for good. It feels good to say that sometimes. I've given up waitressing for good. I've cut down from four jobs to three. Which I know still sounds a little nuts. But I DO have a much more balanced schedule now. I'm not necessarily as busy or always running from one job to the next. Not always at least. But have I been as stressed? Yes, I say to myself bashfully. Why?

How could I be stressed? Well, am I considering all the changes I've made over the past year and a half. The progressions. The scary leap into the new world of starting my own business and being my own boss? The leap of debt (which often sounds like death) that I risked to go to school and now have to pay off. The risk of me having total control. That alone is scary. Stressful.

I think getting sick is a way for the universe to tell me I have to slow down. Because the week prior to me getting sick. I was running around A LOT. Scheduling this, booking that, teaching dance more often. Then, Paul and I had the getaway up north. A perfect chance to relax. We went out with friends as we normally do. The next day I had a hard time attributing my sluggishness and exhaustion to a few beers the night before. Sure I know I'm a light weight now. But this tiredness was a little severe for a mellow night out with some friends. Still I chose to ignore it.

We drove home the next night and I was so happy to crawl into bed. Jumped right back into my schedule the next day. Work, teaching dance, trivia night with the ladies. Same type of busy schedule the next day and the next. I was completely ignoring all the tell tale signs my body was offering. I had this idea in my head, that I can just push through. I don't need to take it easy. I'm strong. I eat really well. I take good care of myself.

Forgetting that listening to my body when it's telling me to slow down IS a huge part of taking good care of myself. All that ignorance eventually led to my body leaving me no choice. You're sick. Now you HAVE to rest.

Still I have a hard time resting. Even though I'm sick. I'm a what you would call a mover. I like to move around. A lot. Everyday. All throughout the day. I've been a gymnast, an athlete, a spinning instructor, a hike, a walker, a waitress, a bartender, a traveler, a dancer, a dance instructor. I like movement and I like to be busy. But sometimes you just have to STOP. Clear your schedule and just rest.

Let this article find you and inspire you to take it easy this weekend. Take a deep breath. Then take two more. Take a nap. Sleep in. Whatever it may be. Listen to your body. It has so many answers for you. Sometimes we just need to sit back, be quiet and listen what it has to say.

In good health,

Rebekah