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Over a week ago, I had been working on another post and I was really struggling with putting my thoughts on paper.  Although this is a daily issue for me, it seemed as if I was having more trouble than usual.  So, I put it aside and was feeling mad at myself for not being able to push through and get something “readable” on the computer screen.  Two days later I woke up with the flu.

Thank goodness it has been 18 years since I have had the flu this bad and by bad I really mean debilitating and miserable.  The morning I woke up with the flu I realized instantly that I had not done an adequate job planning ahead for such an event.  I am fortunate enough to have people in my life who help me out during times like these, but there is no way I am going to ask…………”hey, could you please put a whole chicken in the crock pot, add filtered water, celery, carrots and cook it for 8 hours then make it into a soup?” Nope, I wouldn’t do that plus I was so ill I couldn’t have spoken all those words at one time without taking a nap.

So, I have learned a valuable lesson.  I need to prepare for these dreaded times that I receive an extra illness.  I know that if I eat healthier while ill, I heal quicker.  I know the extra comfort that my favorite bottled water can bring me, or the soothing comfort of only cough drop that doesn’t make me sick to my stomach.  Did I have either of these things on hand, heck no!  So, planning ahead is on my list of things to do once I have fully recovered.

How do I plan on preparing for the next illness?  Great question!  I am going to have homemade chicken broth and soup waiting in the freezer.  I am going to put a bin in my closet and fill it full of things I so missed this time around………favorite bottled water, lip balm, the right cough drops, warm socks, paper plates and bowls, plastic utensils,  comforting teas and some puzzle books from the dollar store.

What do you do to prepare ahead for the cold and flu season?  I would love to hear your great ideas!