The Silence of Feeling Well

by Arielle Arbushites

We don’t think much about our health when we feel well.

Most of us move through our days assuming our bodies will do what they’re supposed to do, get us where we need to go, care for others, keep up with the pace and race of our lives. It’s not that we’re ungrateful. It’s that wellness is silent and does not demand our attention.

That changes the instant we are smacked with a cold, a stomach virus, a broken bone, a debilitating headache.

I’m writing this with a cup of hot tea on my lap, a scratchy throat, and a voice that’s been reduced to a whisper. Nothing serious, but enough to break the usual silence, slow me down, and make me aware of every swallow, every word, every breath that doesn’t come as easily as it did just yesterday.

And it’s shocking sometimes how quickly the ordinary becomes noticeable when it’s disrupted.

When you don’t have to negotiate with your own body, it’s not even a second thought.

We usually reserve our attention for illness, for what goes wrong, what hurts, what needs fixing. And so, health, when it’s here, often goes unacknowledged. It becomes commonplace, taken for granted in our busy lives.

It’s human nature, at least in this day and age.

But there’s also something worth reclaiming in that awareness. Let’s not wait until we are unwell to do the gentle check-in, to take the pause for a moment of gratitude, to celebrate our bodies, minds, and hearts.

For many people, “fine” would feel like a gift. If we feel fine or better, let’s throw some confetti and make some noise. Health and wellness doesn’t have to stay silent.

Don’t wait until your body asks for your attention to offer it. Extend the same compassion to your body that you give to others.

The tea will be finished soon. My voice will come back. And this time I’ll do my best to keep my health…loud.