🌻 Honoring Rest at 65: A Seasoned Soul Reflection

If you’re still working, how do you handle being sick? Do you push yourself to show up, or do you give yourself permission to rest?

When I was coming up, responsibilities were everything. School or work always came first, and you didn’t miss unless you were practically dying. I was raised to arrive early, never late, and to always show up no matter how I felt. That was the culture of commitment I grew up in, and it shaped how I carried myself for much of my life.

Even now, at 65, I can still feel that old training tugging at me. This morning I woke up with a cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, and a plugged ear. Years ago, I would have pushed through it, put on a mask, and gone to work anyway. But today I paused, and I told myself the truth: I don’t feel good.

Instead of ignoring my body, I listened. I stayed home. And I realized something important — at this stage in life, I am my responsibility. I can’t keep pushing through when I don’t feel well. That’s not strength anymore, that’s self-neglect.

It’s interesting to watch how younger people handle being sick. Many call off without hesitation, and they don’t seem to feel guilty about it. For me, even when I’m really not feeling well, I have to hold a whole conversation with myself, reminding myself it’s okay to rest. That old voice of “you must always show up” still whispers, and I have to choose not to let it win.

But here’s the wisdom age has given me: rest is not weakness, it’s respect. Respect for my body, for my years, and for the life I still want to live fully. At 65, I honor myself by staying home when I need to, and I am grateful for the peace that brings.

So I’ll ask you again — if you are still working, how do you handle being sick?