Sick Days

We are given sick days for a reason. The reason of course is to stay home from work or school and get better. So, why should I feel guilty for taking a sick day? I can't pinpoint the exact time in my life that all of a sudden my work proceeded my health in order of importance, but I would like to find out. I have worked at the same job for two  years and have have only taken one sick day. Then, on Wednesday, I was feeling sniffly and knew that I needed to rest because I was running my body ragged, but still emailed my boss to let her know I would be in coming later that day. When I arrived at, I realized I probably should have just stayed home the entire day. But, a part of me felt guilty for coming in late! We are given five free sick days a year, if you don't use them, they go away. Why even give us those days or let us know we have those days if they don't want us to take them. 

Of course, then I work with co-workers that take super-advantage of those sick days and decide to over extend them by calling in sick at the drop of a hat. I guess I don't know what is better: never taking a sick day because I am so dedicated to work that I know things won't get done without my presence, or crying wolf and taking sick day after sick day knowing like people like me will pick up where I slack off? I guess there is no real answer, except I should be expecting my next sick day around sometime in 2009.