Let me start by saying that I despise being sick. It has nothing to do with going through a Sam's club size supply of tissues, loosing my voice, or even the feeling of being hit by a mack truck (although I personally feel that these are reason enough). The part I hate is being made to slow down and rest. I don't like getting behind in my day to day life and I really don't like having to ask for help for simple everyday things like, oh bending over without falling over or walking without hitting a wall. I don't get sick often but when I do watch out because I am the worst version of myself.
So onto the part about what I learned. Over the years, I have learned that there are benefits to learning to step back and accept help. I am not mighty mouse (no matter how much I want to be)and I have to take care of myself so I can take care of my family. For example, my girls are both under 10 but they are in school and normally when I'm sick I would work myself to death while they were gone so when they got home I wouldn't have to work as hard. However, I have figured out that if I just rest and allow my body to heal, they are better off because I'm not down so long. Plus, they are getting older and, as much as it saddens me, they can do every day tasks on their own.
Obviously, I am never going to be a "good sick person" and do what I know I should do all the time because honestly I don't always have a choice.But from now on when I do, I'm going to learn to say more thank you's and less I can do it my selves.