The other day my work’s A/C conked out, meaning I spent about thirteen hours in ninety degree heat with stale air, on no sleep no less.
From this day in the literal sweat box I got a warm weather cold, which are seemingly odder then the ones you get in the Winter because they seem so incongruous and out of place.
However, as I go through today, trying to tie up a couple of writing loose ends before I hit the grindstone again tomorrow, I have learned that besides the sniffling and sneezing, colds can actually be a blessing in disguise, especially if you do not have to work.
Before you start throwing those tomatoes and cabbages let me explain.
Before I wrote about the modern world and how it seems to whiz by in a rush of self importance, giving many of us no time to see the small things in life. TV shows go unwatched, books unread and the simple act of quiet self reflection disappears into the ether.
However, in between the coughs and bouts of sleepiness this cold has allowed me to sit back and take stock, slowing down the rush is a common feature of having a viral illness because in reality despite mom’s chicken soup and orange juice, the most common treatment for a cold is rest.
Now, unlike many I cannot sleep all day and night, it would drive me mad to see a day pass in such a way unless really necessary so I found that the cold gave me some much needed down time to finish a book I kept putting off and give some real thought to some ideas for future projects.
Of course, these ideas were punctuated from the coughs that tried to expel this unwanted visitor in my body but uncomfortably aside, when you are laying prone and your body is inactive you mind picks up the slack.
Many of us may have memories of curling up on the couch with our colds, something we might say we never have time to do in the busy work week. Other may find themselves watching a marathon of that show they have always been meaning to catch up on for the past six months, an enjoyable task put off by a busy home and work life.
This is not meant to demean the mild body aches, sniffles and general discomfort brought on by a cold or similar ailment, but rather a testament to the fact that even bad things have their good points.
Do not get me wrong I will be happier when the cold goes away and allows me to continue n with my daily life without it’s intrusions, but like long gone memories of rainy days activity’s as a kid, it may have a few little benefits as well.
If you can see them through sneezing.
