Sitting crossed legged under the freshly changed turquoise cotton sheets. Just out of the shower in which I indulged in Trader Joe’s citrus shampoo, conditioner and body wash to ease away the remnants of the  lesions from the shingles virus that has been a moment to moment presence in my life for more than a week. Coconut oil slathered on my face to heal my skin.  In pj’s at 6 pm. Listening to Funky Friday on WXPN, puts a wistful smile on my face, as the song Free Nelson Mandela is playing in honor of the man whose life and death has had such a powerful impact on the world and whose legacy will live on in the hearts of those who work for peace and reconciliation.

I have spent the majority of the day in bed and will likely do so tomorrow and Sunday; out of character for this over-achieving, recovering Type A workaholic.  It feels weird but good to do not a whole lot. I have been writing and reading though, dozing here and there. I’m not much a television watcher, except at the gym. This to me, is leisure. Although I am a people person, it has felt more comfortable to be in relative solitude, although not isolation.

Eating lightly, I am sipping peppermint tea and made a concoction of chocolate chai and coconut milk today. Sleep has been another welcome ‘indulgence’ since it was something I did only out of necessity up until shingles kicked my tush. What is also helping in that pursuit is that I bought room darkening chocolate brown curtains. That way the beams aren’t barraging me with their brightness and I can ease into my morning.

I am honoring my needs for a welcome change and asking myself that if I don’t absolutely HAVE to do something at the moment, do I really want to?

Switched the station to sweet holiday music that at the moment is  ear-tickling pennywhistle and flute. I am contemplating the rest of this season that is highlighted with activity and although I am blessed to have many invitations to be with beloved friends and family between now and the New Year, I am choosing one by one which ones I have the energy to attend. In the past, I would have,  whirlwind style made an appearance at all of them, with little regard for how I felt. In that way, I can fully engage in pleasure and not overdo it. It’s kind of like having an entire plate of cookies in front of you that look really decadently delicious and you want to sample them all. It may begin with a nibble and then turn into a gobble and the next thing you know, you have a tummy ache. Pleasure gave way to pain.

I am grateful that (even as a result of the illness) I have given myself the gift of enjoying simple pleasures.