Mom Was Right

In this episode: Mom Was Right (Again!) . . .

Remember that old saying, "Mom knows best?" Well, this week, it resonated profoundly. I vividly recall my mother's steadfast remedy for the common cold, which was ingrained in my 1960s childhood: "Rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take aspirin to reduce pain and fever." . . . Or now that I think about it, this may have been a Bayer aspirin commercial–Simple . . .

Fast-forward to the age of AI and endless medical information at our fingertips, and guess what? Not much has changed. Yet, somehow, this week, Lori and I were blindsided by a cold—the first in over five years. My incredulous "How could this be?" quickly morphed into a dawning realization. Our company's annual meeting, a melting pot of colleagues from Illinois, Texas, Vietnam, Colorado, Northern California, and the Central Valley, was a veritable petri dish of germs.

And, oh, the germs found me!

Getting sick, especially after a long stretch of good health, is a stark reminder of our bodies' delicate balance. I've experienced the full range of cold symptoms without delving into the nitty-gritty details. On day four, my stomach and chest muscles ache with every coughing fit. This week has been a blur of sleep, frequent trips to the bathroom, and a fair amount of frustration. Today, at last, I feel a glimmer of humanity returning.

Through it all, I've leaned heavily on Mom's tried-and-true advice. Rest, fluids, and a bit of pain relief have been my constant companions. And you know what? They've worked. Maybe not miraculously, but steadily, easing the discomfort and allowing my body to do its thing.

So, here's to Mom's wisdom, the resilience of the human body, and simple, effective remedies that stand the test of time. Sometimes, the best medicine is exactly what you remember from childhood. And maybe–just maybe–we should all listen to our mothers a little more often.

I’m Patrick Ball. Always stay curious and follow Mom's advice. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Anonymous said…

Feel better soon- The sunshine this week, and should help!

March 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM

Don Hanley said…

Well done, Patrick - especially the realization that you are human - one + - plus- for reminding that we are connected with all that IS.

March 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM

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