Much Ado with A Bout of the Flu

It's that time of the year. The dreaded months where Kleenex sales skyrocket, Robitussin becomes the hottest cocktail around, and instead of Halloween candy, we're all taking cough drops. That's right, it's Flu season. I've always been pretty susceptible to colds and flus, but I felt since I was a battered victim of Allergy season, I thought I'd catch a break from the flu; unfortunately, all I ended up catching was nasty cold.
 
The interesting thing about the flu, there's many, many ways to avoid it. I cannot count how many times I've wandered past a CVS and seen the sign for “Free Flu Shots.” And I wonder if the best things in life really are free, why have I not partaken in this? When I picked up a prescription at CVS, they gave me a free bottle of hand sanitizer (CVS really does have my back it seems), it remains unused in my purse. To be 100% honest, hand sanitizer always scared me a little with it's cold and strange texture—but it's so useful I wonder why I haven't been using it since I take public transportation everywhere. And most of all, I threw caution into the wind and have spent much time with those that have already fallen prey when I know I'm no superhero with an inherent immunity to the fearsome cold/ flu combo.
 
I've always had a routine of how to cure my colds and flus: aspirin, water, tea (preferably echinacea), soup of any sort, and bed rest. I've tried these methods for years and yet, they never seem to shorten the duration of my illness. We've always been told that of all of the illnesses that have been cured, the common cold is still a medical mystery that goes unsolved. Colds viral upper respiratory tract infection) usually have the symptoms: cough, sore throat, runny nose, and a fever. Flus (Influenza: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection) throw in more serious lung issues. Each of these symptoms, when involved in other illnesses, are curable; but combined, still a mystery. What makes the colds and flus so mystifying?
 
Of course, everyone that has ever had a cold knows of these symptoms, but there's something interesting about a universal shared experience—even if it is a sickness. Every person I've ever known has battled colds and flus, and when I watch people shy away from those that are sick with a cold, I know it's because they dread that sickness, because they've experienced it as well. The knowledge that something that is beyond our control has been experienced by every person, it's almost cosmic. We're all somehow connected out of that feeling of fear, fear of a weakness beyond our control. The common cold and flu are forces that affect our entire lives, and because we've all fallen prey now and then, we are instilled with a sense of empathy for those that are currently ill. Empathy is what makes us human. 
 
Luckily, it will be warm for the next week, although I say lucky subjectively. A cold winter lies ahead of us and as it is already November, it's approaching fast. There's nothing worse and more dangerous than having a cold or flu during a cold winter but as uncomfortable as it is to deal with being sick on a warm day, your chances at a short sickness duration are very high.
 
I know it's important to spend your time off from your busy schedule by enhancing your mind or being productive somehow, but I'm the first to say that it's okay to take a little vacation from the stress. Think of it like this: if your immunity and health are taking a small holiday, you might as well take one too. Watching some daytime television, read a little bit, or simply take a large series of naps; bed rest is so important in curing your cold or flu. And hopefully you all have someone that can bring a can of soup or a little tea over to help ease your discomfort. They say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but if you are all out of apples, hopefully you have a can of chicken soup deep in your cupboards.