Sick time…

Been sick for over a week. Worst flu bug since Covidwhateverthatwas. Flew home and the descent sent my head into full tilt. Couldn’t sleep all night as my head was somewhere else. Weirdest thing. Set my recovery back. Miss taking beautiful care of me. So many kind words from afar. Thank you. Lots of time to think and reflect when you can’t do much else.

Reminded me of coaching I gave a struggling client a few decades ago. His world was a dumpster fire personally and professionally. Been on top of the world. Fell hard. Fast. Went from THE man to less than HUman, at least in his mind. We had been working a few years at that point, so I knew what might work to snap his sorriness “out of it.” Gave him one PA and one PA only. Scrap everything else we’re working on for now, I began our practice abruptly. Does. Not. Matter. Start ONE new habit. Do it every morning and every night. Pointed to a big, open glass jar filled with flowers perched on his beautiful window sill. Had him drain it. Take the flowers out. Clean it. He did, all while looking at me like I was nuts. Had him take a piece of masking tape and write gratitude jar on it. We centered it on the empty jar.

Fill it, I told him.

Every morning when you come into this beautiful place of commerce write something you’re grateful for at home. Fold the paper and drop it in the jar. End of the day? Write something you’re grateful for from your day at commerce doing your job. Fold it. Plop it in the jar. Do this everyday without stopping. That is it. He did. After about three weeks his face changed. Another three his shoulders seemed different. Another three he seemed to stand differently. Slowly I saw my old client returning. Took a few months of focus. Joy returned. It had never left. He just forgot to water the good.

Today, I’m posting a few pics that represent a peek into my gratitude jar. I’m using my sick time to fill my gratitude jar. Filling better and feeling better too. Both take time. Damn.