I have a cold. Just your general, run of the mill sniffling, sneezy, stuffy, achey cold. It isn't debilitating, but just bad enough to hinder normal functionality. My head is in a fog, and it takes deliberate effort to focus on responsibilities that I can't put on hold. To let you in a on a little secret though, I embrace it.
I'm not masochistic, and I don't seek anyone's pity. However, fighting a cold brings me to a unique state of self-awareness. I have a consciousness of my body in ways that aren't apparent when I'm healthy. I feel the tightness in my head, the constant flow of mucus, the subtle aching in my chest and shoulders, and the distinct resonance in my sinuses when I speak. My symptoms worsen at night, and thoughts of death seem appealing if it means I'll finally get some sleep. But it's only temporary. My body is eradicating an invader that entered through an unidentifiable pathway. The symptoms I feel indicate a properly functioning immune system, and in those moments I know that I'm alive.
