Today I noticed...Little Phrases of Encouragement.

I've been popping cough lozenges like a kid who just discovered M&Ms. If I don't have a cough drop in my mouth, I'm coughing - and sometimes even if I have a drop in my mouth, I'm coughing as well. Mike still has some respiratory congestion and coughs in the evenings. I'm just coughing constantly. I don't feel very congested - just a cough and general yuckiness. Plus, I'm T.I.R.E.D. from coughing in a chair instead of sleeping in a bed. Enough whining...

As I was peeling the wrapper off one of my lozenges, I noticed that there were some words other than the brand label on them. Little phrases of encouragement are printed there for those who are miserable like me, I guess. Here are some I've seen:

• Don't waste a precious minute.
• Flex your "can do" muscle.
• It's yours for the taking.
• Keep your chin up.
• Bet on yourself
• Buckle down and push forth!
• Get back in there champ!
• Power through!

I guess I should have noticed that right from the start and I would have been more inspired to get better. Instead, I spent at least a week or more trying to be a good nurse. I sort of felt impending doom the entire time I was stirring up the chicken noodle soup or adding honey and lemon to his teacup or wiping down the last thing he touched or washing all the clothes, coverlets, and linens Mike was coughing and moaning and feeling yucky in. I would sit across the table or the room from him and would swear I could see that green cloud of germiness depicted in television commercials each and every time he coughed. I knew what I was facing and tried to prepare but it came upon me anyway. 

We are finally wearing it out - I hope! Here's hoping that you don't have to waste a precious minute with the creeping crud and can flex your "can do" muscle to make the holiday the best ever. After all it is yours for the taking. Keep your chin up and bet on yourself! Get back in there champ. Just  buckle down and push forth! We are still powering through!