I’m Feeling Good About Doing Nothing and Just Being

I often am my own worst enemy. Well, sarcoidosis is actually my worst enemy. But I’d say I’m a close second.

I know I need to take good care of myself on a daily basis. I am aware I need to do whatever it takes to sleep well and stay as free from pain and other symptoms as possible. But I still have great difficulty with knowing my limits.

In part, this is due to every day being so different. I also have other countless factors to consider. It’s tough. The management of sarcoidosis certainly isn’t clear-cut by any means.

On a recent Saturday morning, I realized the upstairs rooms needed vacuuming. So I lugged out the vacuum cleaner and carried it upstairs. I pushed it around the entire second floor and let it do its job. It didn’t take long. But I was exhausted afterward. Perhaps it was a combination of poor sleep, exertion, and rainy, damp weather, which is particularly tough on me.

Regardless of the reasons, I was feeling tired and achy. As a result, I started feeling lazy, like I just didn’t want to do anything else all day. Unfortunately, then the guilt began to set in for feeling this way. It is a vicious cycle that leaves me exasperated and weary.

But instead of brooding, I took action. First, I indulged in a 20-minute session in the infrared sauna. The warmth helped relieve my muscle aches and joint pain. Then, I soaked my feet in a warm foot bath with Epsom salts. Finally, I attempted to nap. Unfortunately, sleep is often what I need the most when I feel this way. But it’s usually out of reach on days like this.

So I spent a good part of an hour just doing nothing. I didn’t think about anything, which is unusual for an overactive mind such as mine. I didn’t read or look for something to watch on TV, either. I just existed. Amazingly, I started to feel OK about this, peaceful even.

Perhaps people who are experienced in meditation get to this place. It doesn’t typically happen for me. But I have to say that doing absolutely nothing and feeling good about it is a wonderful retreat from my everyday life. I felt better afterward and noticed more improvement the following day.

Long before my sarcoidosis diagnosis, I had a client who was a successful diamond dealer in New York City. He was at the age in which he enjoyed passing along hard-earned wisdom about life with those around him.

I remember his comment about the overall busyness of most people: “We are human beings, not human doings. Sometimes we need to just be.” He emphasized the be.

His comment came to mind on this particular Saturday, when I felt like doing nothing and found myself enjoying it. That’s when it hit me: Whether suffering from a chronic health condition or not, can’t we all benefit from less doing and more being?

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Note: Sarcoidosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sarcoidosis News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sarcoidosis.