By
Armand Cabrera
If you have read this blog or know me personally you know I’m a straight ahead, sleep when you’re dead kind of guy. I let very little get in the way of my art. I make my living as an artist, I have no backup plan or safety net so there are very few times when I will admit I need to stop or slow down.
This though has been one of those times. Coming back from my show in Pasadena, I was unfortunate enough to be next to someone who was obviously sick with some respiratory problem on the plane. The flight was full and I couldn’t change seats.
You guessed it; I got sick once I was home. Not just I don’t feel good sick, but three days of I don’t know who I am, lying in bed with a fever sick, followed by respiratory congestion and flu like symptoms. A week of downtime for a self-employed artist is not good, deadlines must be met, bills paid.
Once I knew where I was I realized the fastest way for me to get better was to heal first, however long that takes. I would do what I could, but first signs of symptoms I would be back in bed.
How to cope with impending deadlines and bills? I work on things I can handle, I listen to my body tell me what I need. If its plenty more rest I take it. I do little prep things that don’t take much energy but move the ball forward. Slow and steady and all that, I can’t afford anything else.
I see a lot of friends who are constantly battling injury and disease. They ignore their doctors advice or what their body is telling them they infect themselves again or re-injure themselves constantly. My advice is give yourself time to heal. Forget what people think you should do listen to what your body tells you and be healthy; it’s the most important thing you can do for yourself.