06/21/2026
For many years I was a vegetarian. Once I started becoming ill I had to start eating meat occasionally whenever my health demanded it. I can go quite a long time before my body will start craving it. I have learned to listen to my body and what it needs through being sick. Whether it's resting during the day, or dietary needs, or whatever it may be. Being sick forces you to have to slow down, and listen to what it needs because if you don't you will learn very quickly that there will be consequences.
If you're like me, you are probably used to just being able to push through anything and carry on with life. That's how I got through the first several years of being severely ill. I still had responsibilities. I worked and I felt I needed to keep pushing myself to carry out my life. It wasn't until it became increasingly dangerous for me that I finally had to stop driving and working. At that point, my body was telling me no more pushing through or you will die. It was a hard pill to swallow but once again I had to listen.
I think it's important to try to listen to our bodies needs. Our health is important and too often in society we don't pay enough attention to our physical or mental health. Both are equally important! We need to reshape how we view slowing down in society and learn that slowing down and taking care of ourselves is actually productive. There's nothing wrong with slowing down when we need to, or resting if we need it, or whatever it is that we need. We only get one life and we better take care of it the best that we can. I know we live in a fast paced world and we have tons of things that are calling for our attention, but sometimes we just need to put things on hold, and focus on ourselves. Is it difficult to do? Absolutely! Is it necessary? Definitely!