Winter Sicknesses

Winter brings many ups and downs in the weather and it all seems to bother our health.  I have asthma and I know if I get a cold, it just makes my life harder.  With that said, I also have family and friends that often think it completely okay to stop and visit me when they are sick.  I just don't know what it is in the thought process.  They know to stay away from others, not go to classes, lessons, even the YMCA if they are sick.  But when it comes to me, it seems they think I am always okay so it will be okay.

I stay pretty healthy.  I also work at staying pretty healthy.  I exercise often.  I walk my Daisy Mae Foxhound several times a day in the great country air.  I go to the YMCA and swim laps and do yoga.  I do all of this because I want to be healthy. I clean and wash and take care to rid our home and my body of germs.  This does not mean I am having a phobia about it.  I want to be well.

With all that said, I just don't understand why people actually get upset and even rude when I tell them to not visit, or I cannot have you come stay the night if you are sick.  They try to even make me feel guilty about it.  For just a little while I did feel guilty when I would not have a family member come for a few nights when their other family went on a trip.  But really, they were sick, or said they were.  They could not go to the YMCA with me because they were sick, but thought I should also stay home with them.  Now really, that is not what my retired life is about.  It also is not what my healthy life is about.  If they are too sick to go other places, they are too sick to come stay with me.

In writing all of this, I am just wondering if it is the people in my life that just don't get it.  Maybe you have the same problem in your life.  Hopefully not, but if you do, please don't even for one minute take on guilt because you say no to people when they are sick.  It is important for each on of us to know our health and our body and our desires for staying healthy.  I know that if I get congested, I get worse then lots of people and even end up in the hospital.  I take pride in the fact that I have not been in the hospital for four years now, with bronchial stuff.  I know that it is because I am saying no.  I know it is because I am putting my health first before doing favors for others, or letting them slide on coming and coughing, sneezing, and making my house contagious.  

Still, a part of me says, well, maybe I should care more!  I care that they are sick, but stay home and get well, which will help both of us, and the world around us.