When Illness Changes Everything

The Kind of Tired You Can’t Ignore

Yesterday, I told myself I was just going to go over to my son’s house and fold one load of laundry I had left in the dryer.

Just one simple thing.

But as usual, one thing turned into another.

I decided to wash their bath mats and hang them to dry. Then I wiped down two bathroom sinks, the kitchen, and the dining room table. I swept the dining room floor and thought, “I’ll just go upstairs and vacuum the girls’ room.”

But when I got up there, the floor was still overwhelmed with stuff.

So instead of vacuuming, I started picking up.

Before I knew it, I had two tall laundry baskets full of dirty clothes and one huge construction-size black trash bag full of laundry. I hauled most of it downstairs, along with some dirty dishes, and then I vacuumed.

The room is finally done… well, except for the closet.
I’ll tackle that another day.

By the time I left, I was in so much pain. The kind of pain that makes you realize you pushed too far—but you didn’t notice it while you were in the middle of “just getting things done.”

This morning, I woke up sore.
Really sore.

But I still got up and got out of the house.

I went to Dollar Tree… didn’t buy anything.
Went to TJ Maxx… didn’t buy anything there either.
I did find a wooden tray at Burlington for $12—so I bought that and nothing else.

Then I went to Walmart for a few groceries and a couple of things on my list… and somehow spent $159.

Isn’t that always how it goes?

Now I’m back home, just finished lunch, and my body is reminding me—again—that I can’t keep doing things the way I used to.

Here’s what I’m learning

I say I’m resting.
I say I’ve stepped away from work to take care of myself.

But moments like yesterday show me something important:

I don’t just overwork in the salon…
I overwork everywhere.

At home.
At my son’s house.
In the little “I’ll just do this one thing” moments.

And those “little things” add up fast.

The truth I’m facing

I love helping my family.
I love getting things done.
I love walking into a clean, organized space.

But my body has limits now.

And if I ignore those limits, it doesn’t matter whether I’m working in a salon or cleaning a bedroom… the outcome is the same:

Pain. Exhaustion. Recovery days.

So today is different

Today isn’t about what I didn’t get done.

It’s about recognizing what I did do…
and giving myself permission to rest afterward.

Because rest isn’t laziness.

For me, right now…
rest is necessary.

A gentle reminder (for me… and maybe for you too)

Just because you can keep going…
doesn’t mean you should.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do
is stop before your body makes you.