Dear Reader,

Most women I work with know they’re allowed to take a sick day. They’ll tell you so from bed, thermometer in mouth, phone propped on the duvet, answering a “quick question” email with one thumb. Half-resting, half-on-call.

Last week a wicked virus flattened me, and somewhere around day two I gave up and put my phone face-down in another room.

Here’s what I’ve been doing instead:

Reading, napping, and lots of wait, did I already read this page?

Drawing smudgy, strange monsters with these oversized blocks of charcoal I picked up in Rome.

Lying in the hammock under tons of blankets (extra laundry be damned!) and watching the leaves glow.

There’s no right way to do a sick day, of course. You don’t need another thing to get right. But I hope you’ll consider this your permission to give yourself what you need, fully.

Do you have a half-sick-day ritual you’d like to retire? Press reply and tell me. (I promise I’ll answer once I’m out of the hammock.)

With such love,

Brooke

P.S. Thanks to everyone who filled out the reader survey. I’m delighted to share that Silvie won the drawing for a 1:1 session with me!

I'm Brooke Hofsess.

I'm a Midlife Midwife for women who want to start their next chapter from soul, not fear or ego, so they can finally do the work they're meant to do — and actually enjoy it.

You'll find me in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where I live with my husband Dustin, our daughter Thea, two clever border collies, and an ever-growing collection of handmade mugs for Egyptian Licorice Mint tea.

You can read about my journey here.​