Wildflower Writes

Photo by Isabella and Louisa Fischer on Unsplash I like to breathe. The intake of oxygen, the expelling of carbon dioxide… it keeps the blood moving and all the organs functioning. Then this nasty microscopic virus (of the common cold variety) interferes with the breathing process. Armed with Kleenex, antihistamines, decongestants, cough drops, vitamins, lip balm, anti-bacterial wipes, tea, and soup… I settled in for a long night (or two). Before the cold hit, I took breathing for granted. I didn’t even think about it. It just happened. It was easy, even automatic. So many things in life are like that. You don’t realize how you took your health for granted until you get a diagnosis. You don’t realize how much you enjoy someone’s company until they move away. You don’t realize how it feels to be trusted until you fall out of someone’s good graces. I think that’s why gratitude is so powerful. It provides insurance against those life disappointments. If you live in gratitude, you...

Photo by  Demi-Felicia Vares  on  Unsplash Friday night. Pizza (frozen), popcorn (-flavored jellybeans), and a movie (free streaming). Let’s just say I’m watching my dollars and cents. While browsing movies, Zombieland came across the screen. I didn’t know much about it… based on the movie poster I would have guessed it took place in a zombie-themed amusement park. Oddly prophetic, in Zombieland, a virus takes over the country. Rather than causing a reliance on masks, sanitizer, and pre-measured 6-foot spaces, however, it causes people to become flesh-eating zombies. The main character has survived because he sticks to his rules. One rule he adopts after teaming up with another survivor is, “Enjoy the little things.” Like Twinkies. This “rule” is profound if you think about it. You’re so depressed you don't want to get out of bed? Focus on the little things that bring joy- a favorite song, a hyperactive squirrel, a hot drink… Start with one thing and just enjoy it...

You have a high fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches. Is it the flu? Is it swine flu? What do you do? The idea of a potentially deadly virus spreading from person to person throughout the world is a scary idea. What do we do with all the information available about this disease? We could lock ourselves and families in our homes, bathe in sanitizer, cover every known surface with Lysol and bleach, throw away all the pork products, and wait out this potential pandemic. Or we could live our lives as before, taking precautions we should be taking anyway to prevent the spread of disease, such as washing hands and staying home when sick. About 36,000 people die from the flu every year in the United States. This compares to about 936,000 per year who die from cardiovascular disease, 553,000 who die from cancer, 69,000 who die from diabetes, and 43,000 who die from car accidents. You are more likely to die in a car crash than die from exposure to the flu. Fear is not a way to live life. Fear ...