Hi there! I haven’t blogged for a while, and it’s good to be back. Blogging is fun (thank you, Tai Goodwin), it gets the creative juices flowing, and keeps me connected with great people. So the question is, if it’s so much fun to blog, why have I been away for so long?

Earlier this year I ran into a few health issues. Actually, they ran into me and knocked me on my rump. Not only did they take a physical toll on my body, they threw me for an emotional loop. Many days, all I could do was stay in bed (FYI – daytime TV is as bad as it ever was). I was 100% there for my clients, but everything else took a back seat. And like a lot of cars, that back seat had more and more stuff piled on it every day.

So what’s the point of this blog? It’s definitely not to gain sympathy! I’ve always been independent and strong. I knew I would get through this. But as with most life situations, there are a few very important life lessons that I learned regarding maintaining sanity through crisis. I’d like to share them with you, and I hope you find them useful.

1. Calendar everything. Yes, everything. It’s a great way to instantly see if you’re taking on too much in any one area. It also takes away the concern of forgetfulness. Dealing with health issues can make your life extremely busy. There’s doctor appointments, picking up prescriptions, home care (in my case, it was doing my physical therapy exercises)…etc…all that stuff takes time! Allow yourself that time, and calendar it into your schedule.

2. Take it slow. For the first couple of weeks, I assumed I could go at my normal pace. My body, however, disagreed – and told me so in no uncertain terms. By mid-day, I was completely wiped out and in a lot of pain. It’s kind of hard to be at your best when your body is screaming at you at the top of its lungs.

3. Be authentic. Let people know why you can’t attend their event, or why you need to postpone a meeting. Don’t whine about it, though. Take a “matter of fact” approach. Tell them you’d like to attend, but you’re having some health issues and can’t commit to anything right now. And let them know that you’ll tell others about their event via social media. A quick Facebook share or a re-tweet goes a long way with goodwill.

Interestingly enough, I didn’t feel the need to share my situation with clients. I was continuing to manage my client workload (client work was pretty much all I did). I kept this on a “need-to-know” basis. It’s possible to be authentic while still not disclosing to everyone.

So there you have it – life lessons regarding handling health issues (or any crisis, for that matter). As for me, I’m glad to be back. And I’ve been mentally writing this blogpost for a few months now. I just didn’t have the energy to type it and post it until recently (self-care is a good thing!) I’d like to hear your thoughts and comments – please feel free to share!