The Vulnerability of Being Sick

I have to admit, I was starting to feel invincible in that I haven't had a cold in 2 years. Of course, I contributed this to my plant based lifestyle. It is shown to improve your immunity. I forget though that all illness is not always physical based. Sometimes, it's just the universe's way of telling you to slow down, release, accept, and be vulnerable. None of these are easy for me. Hence, being sick is just as an emotional process as a physical one for me and I ALWAYS learn something, physically or emotionally. Let's start with the physical:

VEGETABLE BROTH AND LUNG CLEANSER

Watching countless nutritionists on Youtube has given me a few new tricks up my sleeve. Firstly, vegetable broth is awesome and so much better than greasy animal based broths. I was shocked in the way it came together so quickly and easily. I will definitely be adding this to my weekly routine. Of course, the Medical Medium is to take credit for the recipe:

http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/healing-broth

Did you know that citrus is good for your lung health? I didn't either. It's amazing at not only clearing out the mucus from a yucky cold but it's good overall to improve lung function. My mom, like most in the 70s, smoked when she was pregnant with me. I got bronchitis a decent amount as a kid and asthma as a teen. I no longer deal with those issues but my lungs are probably a little compromised due to them. My healing lung potion only has 4 ingredients: 1 grapefruit, 1 orange, 1 lemon, and water. Juice all the fruit and add enough water to get to 24-48 oz. You decide how much you want to dilute it. It's better diluted though because the water is also cleansing.

THE REAL REAL

The real real is that I have a hard time slowing down. I like to be busy. Sometimes I wonder if only so my monkey mind stays quiet. It's hard to surrender to my body and to make myself vulnerable to the other members in my family. Especially, when I am the one always doing for them. I struggle with the guilt of asking others for help. It's also hard letting people down and canceling appointments. Especially when I am a people pleaser. It's also amazing what emotions come up when you are fighting an upper respiratory infection. The lung is the seat of all grief. There's much to be hidden in its crevices. So, you are feeling it in your lungs and then expected to cough it all up. That's hard because you are letting go of old events and emotions. Many which come with much baggage and have been there for years and years. My answer to this is cry, journal, whatever you need to to let them go.

In closing, I didn't want this virus. If I'm being honest, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I try to avoid viruses on the daily in the wintertime. But, the universe knew better and asked me to be sick. To sit in all the uncomfortableness and vulnerability that comes along with that. It was and is a struggle but I'm glad to be coming out the other side and maybe have learned some new tricks along the way.