flu shot Archives - Listen to Lena

This past weekend, I was out and about. I shopped for groceries, attended my son’s indoor soccer game, took my other son to a birthday party and even managed to squeeze in a quick brunch with a friend, which yielded the following plate of scrambled eggs.

I think I’ve been eating scrambled eggs the wrong way my entire life. Oh-Em-Gee.
12556141_1005051036240084_1934865149_n My weekend was fun, productive, and most of all – I didn’t miss out on life’s little adventures because I was sick at home with the flu.

How did you celebrate a flu-free weekend? I posed the question to my followers on Twitter, and it was heartwarming to read all your responses! From enjoying time outdoors with the kids to celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, nothing kept you down. Congratulations on being winter warriors! …

Well, okay… maybe it was a big deal, because it was my FIRST flu shot EVER.

But really, it’s business as usual here. I didn’t get the flu immediately after taking it; I didn’t suffer any strange side effects and my arm definitely didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. All in all, I pretty much felt the same – except now, I’m less likely to contract the flu this season. Sounds very straightforward and reasonable… so *why* did it take me so long to get myself vaccinated?

The truth is, I believed in the myths that I stated above. I actually thought that taking the vaccine might give me the flu, and after watching my husband whine and complain about how much it hurts (he takes the flu shot annually) I’ll admit I was hesitant to take it on the wuss-factor alone. But this flu season, with one vacation under my belt and another just days away, I decided not to take chances with my health or the health of my family.

That’s me in a photograph taken last month. I’m enjoying the stunning winter wonderland that is Mont Tremblant, and am healthy, energized and most-importantly, flu-free!
12346025_855546841229468_1373533255_n Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t actually think I’m Superwoman or immune to contracting the flu. But with careful hygiene (hand washing and sanitizing) and healthy eating habits, I’m much less likely to succumb to the dreaded virus. (And if I do, I’ll hopefully have a shorter, less intense bout of illness and recover more quickly.) …

What Will You Do? Where Will You Be… When You’re Flu-Free?

I Had the Flu Shot. No Big Deal.