Why Would Someone Choose to Be Sick?!?

Life sucks when you’re sick. I’m writing this from bed, my head so congested it feels like it will sprout petunias out of my ears, and I’m watching ridiculous daytime TV (my guilty indulgence when I don’t feel well.) Daytime TV banks on people who choose illness and deficiency rather than health and is an interesting case study on why people choose to waste their lives away.

The anorexic, a 26-year-old who weighs 73 pounds (and was crying because last time she weighed she was at an even 70) has body that’s shutting down, but continues to choose to starve herself. Even though she knows in her head that what she is doing is killing her body, and killing her family, she still defines herself by what the scale says and will live in a totally sick way to manipulate those numbers.

Then there was the stay-at-home mom who should be called a stay-in-bed mom, because most days she chooses her pillow and comforter rather than engaging with her healthy, beautiful family. She isn’t really physically sick, but acts that way, because being in bed is easier than taking responsibility for your life.

When you cocoon yourself in sickness, you create a socially acceptable excuse to not move forward in life. People just feel sorry for you, you feel sorry for you, and your life can just drift away.

The sad thing is, most of us know somebody who chooses sickness over wellness. They don’t think they are, but when they choose to be very overweight, unfit, eat in a way the causes regular headaches, stomachaches, digestion issues, when they choose depression and sadness over gratitude and getting help, when they choose addictions that will cut their lives short – they are most certainly choosing to be sick.

What a waste…