Dear Rose # 30 - Dealing with the unfairness of a health setback

Rose is an amalgam of us - women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond who are looking for somewhere they are seen, heard and listened to.

Dear Rose,

Two nights out of three, while I was recovering from pneumonia, I pulled the Justice tarot card—but in reverse. The meaning of this card in one word is unfairness.

For a big chunk of my recovery, I’ve been thinking about how unfair it was to get pneumonia over the Easter long weekend. I’d been hanging out for this break for weeks. I was so keen to work on some creative ideas that have been brewing, but my brain and body were too consumed with healing to follow through.

I also kept thinking about how unfair this was since I’d just started a new fitness regime. I’d made dates with myself in my calendar for walks, strength training at the gym, and my beloved pool walks—not to mention my physio exercises for my hip injury. But the day after I started this new program... Bam! Pneumonia.

After five full days in bed, it occurred to me that I had a crochet project I’d started 18 months ago sitting in my cupboard, just waiting to be finished. Not only did I get to do something creative, I also proved to myself that I can get back to things when I’m ready. It reminded me that I can do the same with my fitness program, too.

And the tarot card I pulled on the day between the two Justices? Temperance, which is all about balance. I think there’s a lesson in there somewhere.

Love, Em xx