04/02/2011

Day 2 #HAWMC Word of the Day

Today is Day 2 in the #HAWMC  Health Activists Writer's Month Challenge and the challenge is the WOTD:  UNCTUOUS.

When I read unctuous was the WOTD I had no idea what it meant. After reading the definition, I was stumped. I could certainly think of various groups’ of people, places and things that would fit this word to perfection. But writing about these things wouldn’t be productive or nice for that matter.

Living life with Migraine disease, chronic pain and various invisible illnesses’ can be very challenging. But taking care of ourselves is mandatory. Self care is an important aspect of daily life which many people seem to get. Some people are excellent at self care, while others struggle to be kind to themselves throughout their entire lives.

Let’s say we commit to accompanying a loved one to the doctor. At this appointment the patient (loved one) is greeted very nicely and asked to fill out some paper work. As the paper work is being filled out, your head starts to hurt, but you realized your sunglasses and medication are in the car. Do you sit and wait before you feel more Migraine symptoms come on and risk not being able to abort the Migraine attack? Or do you take the medication per your doctor’s instructions?

The smart thing would be to get the medication, take it and wear the sunglasses. Bad habits, old patterns and poor self care (ignoring the issue) would be the “typical” thing to. You, your head, and its pain can have a long, unctuousconversation about all the reasons why you don’t need to get your medication, or wear the sunglasses inside. The little voice in your head can be quite “smug and unpleasantly suave” when it comes to ignoring all things related to self care. But at some point, you begin to realize that if you don’t take care of you – no one will do it for you. So you take your medication, wear the sunglasses and hope the Migraine is aborted.  And oh yes, carry on with life.

Thanks for reading and feel well,

Follow me on  or 

© Nancy Harris Bonk, 2011.Last updated April 2, 2011.