Googling flu

I’ve been googling “flu cures, treatment” and all related articles for the past couple of days and nights. So far, I have read more than I need to know. I even came across a comparison chart of colds and flu. Now I know what differentiates the two. (And this confirms yet again that I am truly a geek. Only a geek would spend a portion of his/her rest time surfing the internet for cures. The hypochondriac, on the other hand, would probably call an ambulance, pronto.)

What I’ve read just verifies that I really got hit by the flu virus. And oh, the feeling that twenty hollow blocks fell on me is another telltale sign. Funny because eleven days ago I had a flu shot. I read one article too late, written by a doctor, which reveals that the shot doesn’t protect a person 100% from getting the flu (sometimes it makes one even more susceptible to infection). Case in point, me.

There’s really not much left to do now but lock myself in my room and try to stave off the fever and body aches by bed rest. I’ve slept more than I wanted to and I’ve drank more bottles of Gatorade than an NBA player during championship games (the tropical fruit variant is my favorite). There are three different books under my pillow and many more are waiting to be taken out to keep me company.

During these alone times, I usually get hit by realizations that wouldn’t come to me in my more lucid state. Realizations like what? Here are five:

1 Eat more vegetables

2 Don’t stay out too late too often.

3 Avoid stress.

4 You don’t need to please everybody.

5 And . . . you still have a dozen things to be grateful for.

As soon as I get better, I might forget the first four in my realization list but not the last. Because regardless of how I feel, good or bad, whether my temperature is up or down, the goodness of God is constant.

Thank You, Lord, that I didn’t get the flu while I was caring for a sick aunt, or while I was rushing to finish several book projects, or while I was vacationing in Palawan.

And thank You, Lord, that even if my throat is sore and my head throbs, I don’t have a runny nose.

And thank You, Lord, that I don't need a bachelor's degree in Math to count my blessings.