Day 5 - 71 -- Coughing and Thinking

This first day of working earlier than for the last few months went fairly well. I felt a bit cranky, but more due to virus invaders than lack of sleep, I think. Others around me were affected by the time change and weekends filled with writing and grading papers. This isn't unusual as changing time tends to create a week or so of fatigue that brings less focus and some uncharacteristic snapping at those around us. I do find it odd that I'm not sure what time it is and am constantly checking clocks and watches for reassurance <smile>.

Reactions of one person come from within them and not from the other person in the conversation. Remembering this can help situations to feel less personal. This helped me in several meetings today. In the second lecture of the morning, I had a coughing spell -- something new with this cold-like thing. I was able to keep my train of thought, which alone was a surprise <smile> and choked out a sentence between coughs. Once it passed, the rest of the lecture went as expected. A hand did go up as I was coughing. The class member offered me a cough drop <smile>. That made me realize that I wasn't on my own at the front of that big room -- a positive in the midst of a negative event.

Pondering aspects of the day with my reactions and those of others -- positive and otherwise -- brought to mind a line or two from a song. "I feel myself a cog on something turning" as well as "life is for learning."  Both lines helped me to contextualize thoughts of the day. It is also a song that I'd read about earlier today noting that it has been 48 years since the album was released by a group of four. It is a beautiful song written by a Canadian woman singer-songwriter. This version brings an upbeat tempo to the melody and poetry of the lyrics. Enjoy!

Woodstock -- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (Deja Vu album ) written by Joni Mitchell