Today I am sharing some of my story … Six weeks postpartum I awoke at 4am shaking and sick. Four days later, it was decided this was more than just the flu and a visit to the Urgent Care was made. After spending a good part of the day, 3 bags of IV fluids, potassium pills and an ultrasound, I was sent home with instructions that if the pain and fever did not cease I should come back. 2 days later, that is what I did. Much worse this time with severe pain through my entire body, a high fever and shortness of breath.
The next several days are a bit of a blur. I remember a handful of things – a doctor saying I would stay until they figured out why I was sick, coding during a CT scan, the ambulance ride to another hospital, waking up in pitch black not knowing where I am and finally being told I was in the ICU. They discovered I had a strep infection in my blood stream causing a blood clot in my ovarian artery and a severe case of pneumonia. This was the scariest wake-up call I have ever received!
I blatantly ignored the Universes nudging to slow down, so it screamed at me and gave me a swift kick in the butt! At the time I got sick, my stress levels were through the roof with work (self-employed meant no mat leave), raising a family (no sleep with a newborn) and a husband (now ex) who worked straight afternoons with mandatory overtime so was rarely home. Honestly, I am not sure how I functioned most days. Life was just a stressed out blur. But when I left the hospital, I knew I would never live that way again and I haven’t!
Yes, I am still busy as a single mom of 3 and an entrepreneur, but the difference is I know how to handle my life and my stress. I take time daily for self care, I get lots of sleep, eat healthy and exercise. I meditate when I wake up and before I go to sleep each day. I know how to ask for help (a REALLY big lesson) because asking for help doesn’t make me weak, it means quite the opposite. I learned how to say NO, set boundaries and listen to my body and what it needs.
Most of all I take the time to see my own energy therapist regularly. Keeping my emotional, spiritual and physical body healthy is important, especially as a healer. She has helped me to see my lessons, be thankful for them and release them as they no longer serve me – Learn and let go. She has taught me how to balance my life making sure to put myself first (as a supermom this never happened) and love myself for all my imperfections are actually perfect just the way they are. Taking care of me personally has made me a better healer, so has being a recovering supermom. The “cape” still hangs there taunting me to put it back on some days, but I resist. My new life is much simpler, more peaceful and happier. You see, I trust the universe has an amazing plan for me and I choose to surrender to its beauty.
I challenge you to hang up your “cape” and take care of you! Don’t make the same mistake I made needing a thump over the head from the universe to listen. I am only asking you to do what I have already done. No sugar coating, it will be a journey of ups and downs, but I can promise you one thing … it will be worth it in the end!
Original post was shared on September 17, 2013
