There’s something humbling about the body forcing you to stop. It’s a reminder that rest is not optional, even when you have plans, deadlines, or life waiting to be lived. Jet lag alone makes you feel like you’re existing in a different time zone from the rest of the world. Pair that with a flu, and suddenly even getting up feels like climbing a mountain.
The first few days were a blur of Theraflu and naps at odd hours. My mind wanted to be productive, but my body said, “Not today.” And honestly, it was frustrating. There’s a certain vulnerability in being sick, in not being able to do what you want when you want. And as the days dragged on, I had to give up and give in.
Healing, like anything worth having, takes time. So, I took it one day at a time. Slowly, I started feeling more like myself, I could manage a little more instead of collapsing back into bed. Small victories, but victories nonetheless.
Jet lag and flu are alike in their stubbornness. They remind you to be patient, to let your body find its rhythm again. And somewhere in the middle of it, I found a strange sort of peace in this slow process – a chance to sleep and wake with no regard for time, a chance to mourn.
Because that’s how we make it out of the haze – slowly, steadily, and with a renewed appreciation for the little things, like feeling good enough to sit up, breathe deeply, and type these words. Still tired, still not entirely myself, but better. Slowly but surely, better.
For anyone else who’s dealing with jet lag, the flu, or just a moment when life forces you to slow down – hang in there. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to let yourself recover. And it’s okay to take it one day, one hour, even one minute at a time.
There’s a quiet kind of joy in those moments when you feel yourself getting better. Your energy creeps back in small, almost imperceptible increments. Your appetite returns. A sense of normalcy feels just a little closer.
It’s like catching glimpses of the sun after too many grey days.