Avoiding the Plague with a Smile

Here it is September, and already there are some nasty bugs flying furiously about.  My daughter is currently working 2 jobs while attempting to start-up her own business, so it came as no surprise last week when she was sidelined for 4 days.  It was ugly.
Another not so surprising development was waking up with the sore throat myself the other morning.  There is too much going on right now to even be down for a single day, so this was just not a possibility.  Immediately, I started taking elderberry every few hours, tea with honey and lemon, eating lots of garlic, turmeric and onions, and the usual protocol to avoid falling ill.

Along with these things, there are some very simple things that we can all do that make a huge difference.  I've had a good bit of experience avoiding illness.  For three years we had a relative living here waiting for an organ transplant.  We were given the admonishment that any virus brought into the house could kill him.  No pressure there!  I learned to view every public surface that I touched as a potential danger, using sleeves to push buttons and open doors.  Hand washing is very important.  In those three years, only one bug got through the gates, and it was kept to the individual, not spread around.  It is much more difficult inside the home, so try to leave it out there in public.  That's the best thing you can do.
But alas, it was already in the house... My friend Fran Malone reminded me to avoid saying negative things because our bodies really do hear and respond to our words and thoughts.  So saying or thinking, "Oh, I don't feel good," can be a self-fulfilling prophesy.  Ever notice that the people who constantly say that they get everything that comes down the pike DO pick up every germ? 
Instead, stand or sit up straight and say with conviction, "I feel GREAT!!!"  Do it often.  In fact, do it every morning upon rising, and you really will feel good.  Try it - you'll see.
Next, SMILE.  It will feel silly to put a big grin on while you're washing dishes alone, but do it anyhow.  Remind yourself to smile as much as you can.  From the article "9 Benefits of Smiling", this excerpt says it all:
"Smiling even makes your immune system stronger by making your body produce white blood cells to help fight illnesses. One study found that hospitalized children who were visited by story-tellers and puppeteers who made them smile and laugh had higher white blood cell counts than those children who weren’t visited."
Lots of fluid, plenty of rest (oh that's the hardest one), nourishing foods, and some good anti-viral herbs can do wonders.  Add the smiles and the encouraging words and see if you can't just keep the coming plagues at bay.
Yesterday I completed most of the more pressing commitments, and it was tempting to let my guard down - but I'm sitting here smiling as I type.