Pandemic

Just like many others in our country right now, I am suffering from a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and stuffy sinuses.  I have watched the news reports about the flu and am fairly certain that I have an old fashioned cold.  I had no fever and no aches, but the reporting sure does make you look carefully at what you are feeling.  I am one who always gets a flu shot.  I feel that it is my duty since I live with others whose health is compromised by asthma or Crohn's disease.  My getting the flu shot is a protection for them.  I also believe that flu shots have helped me a lot over the years: either I don't get the flu when others around me do or I get a milder, abbreviated case of it.

If you are like me, you have seen the news stories about the spread of the flu.  I have seen reports that talked about the spread of the flu across the United States, reports that outlined the symptoms, reports that discussed deaths from complications of the flu, reports about what you can take if you get the flu, or when to go to the doctor.  All of these reports encourage everyone to get a flu shot, and many of them throw out the word "pandemic".  They often follow this by saying it isn't a pandemic yet so I wonder why they even used the word at all!

Plague is a game that I sometimes play on my iPad.  It is a game where you infect a certain part of the world, establish criteria so it mutates and spreads, and creates a pandemic throughout the world.  There is also a board game called Pandemic: On the Brink.  Sounds weird, but these are fun because you have to use strategy to win.  This is clearly the world of game play.  However, in reality, pandemics can be very scary!  So why is the media sensationalizing this flu season by using this word while denying that it is that bad?  I think it is a way to get people excited about watching the news.  I think it is also a way to encourage people to get a flu shot through scare tactics!

While I don't believe in scaring people about the flu, I personally believe that everyone should get the flu shot every year so that we don't spread it around as easily.  I know that everyone does not agree with this viewpoint.  However, it saddens me when I hear of young and old dying from complications of the flu.  Yes, some of them had the flu shot, but it may be that they were exposed because someone they came into contact with did not.  Each person needs to make this personal decision, but I would urge all to get the flu shot to protect others in your life if not yourself!

I hope that all of you are getting a lot of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and staying healthy!  And as always...

Have you found your joy today?