As I record books for a living I have to always be on high alert to any colds or coughs happening around me as if I go down with something it means I can’t work, and books have deadlines and I have clients and a full schedule and so this time of year is always extremely challenging. Dodging the sniffles. Hard too because at this time of year there are-if you’re lucky-many gatherings of family and friends and so many more opportunities to catch aforementioned illnesses. I had a family gathering yesterday for Thanksgiving and we received news a few days before the event that a couple of my young nieces and nephews were sick-my brother (who was hosting) thought they would be fine to still host but we could decide whether or not we still wanted to come. I first drafted a message saying that I was sorry to hear that they weren’t well but due to my schedule etc etc I think I should bow out…then I didn’t send it. I thought I would wait awhile. Then others weighed in saying they would still go and then so without thinking I too said I would go. Thus ensued a super stressed out few days for me as I worried about the event, saying to a 5 yr old that we can’t hug because they are sick is very difficult to achieve. I loved spending time with family but ultimately I should have not gone because I was on edge about getting ill, I was washing hands all the time and now-the next day-I am downing so much vitamin C I feel I may turn orange. So I need to give myself permission to be honest-regardless of others comfort levels around sickness. For me my first instinct was to not go, but as others were going I thought I ought to go along too. I didn’t want to be a wet blanket. But I thought the lesson from Covid was to stay away from sickness, maybe we’ve bounced back into a time of just getting on with it and hoping for the best. But I won’t be doing that next time. Although I am enjoying the pecan pie I took home.. Hopefully I will not go down like a sack of sick potatoes and all will be well and all that I will have learned will be the lesson on honesty-even if it isn’t the popular or welcome choice.