LIFE
Gratitude for My Sinus Infection
How my life was changed for the better by a virus
Maybe you’ve had a terrible experience and then realized it completely improved the trajectory of your life. Many years ago, I had a sinus infection. The pain was intense. The pressure was so overwhelming I felt my cheekbones were actually going to fracture, burst open. I recall clearly sitting cross-legged on a roommate’s futon in the dark, fingertips pressed to my tear-wet cheeks and massaging my cheekbones in gentle circles, praying for the inflammation to go away.
Though well into my twenties, I wanted nothing more than to call my Mommy. I would ask her to find some medicine for me. I envisioned her telling me to take a nap while she made me a nice hot cup of tea since hot Red Rose tea fixes most problems.
I like to think of myself as reasonably tough, so normally I would have endured the misery. I would have gone to school or taken some pain medication and slept as much as possible after a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, I had an interview for a summer job. The infection needed more time to remedy itself, but there was no time for that.
In any job interview, you want to look and perform your best. You don’t want to look like you’ve been partying for days with mucus running down your chin…
