On Illness

Illness imposes luxury on us - the luxury of sleep, of sunlight across the bed at hours we are normally up and busy. The luxury of being cared for - brought toast made by a child, given a cold drink that someone went out and got just for you. The luxury of time to think slowly - indeed, illness often forces us to think slowly by stealing away the energy needed for panic and worry.

I am never happy to be ill, but I find that it isn't not impossible to be happy while ill.