Today, I had to do something I rarely do: call in sick to work. It wasn’t an easy decision, but with a cough that I simply couldn’t control and the accompanying chest and throat pain, I knew it was the right call. Yet, as I explained this to my manager over the phone, I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt—the kind that gnaws at you, making you wonder if you sound sick enough or if you’ve let your team down. Let me back up a bit. This cough didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the kind of dry, strained coughing that leaves your throat raw and your chest aching. It’s relentless, making it hard to focus, let alone work in a busy environment. Despite my tendency to push through, I realized that going in would not only hinder my recovery but also risk spreading the bug to my colleagues. No one needs their day disrupted by a lingering cough. Still, calling in sick never feels good. I’m someone who doesn’t take a day off unless it’s absolutely necessary. Maybe it’s because I value reliability or ...
Just some guy ranting online about the world around him.