How to Avoid Falling Victim to the Flu

Posted on by Kelsey Webb

My roommate was recently diagnosed with Influenza A and my immediate reaction was nothing short of panic.

“Mom’s coming to town this weekend, I can’t get sick!”

“I just started my new job, there’s no way I can miss work.”

For those near and dear to me know my detest of sickness. Add a little bit of germaphobia into the mix and it’s bound to be a recipe for disaster, or so I thought. I have been practicing natural healing, self-taught, for a few years now and my immediate reaction to sickness around me is now filled with healthy and natural ways to prevent and heal.

What is natural healing? Natural healing can be described as ‘non-invasive, alternative medicine, or otherwise self-healing.’ Examples of natural healing include and are not limited to: vitamins, specialty doctor care (chiropractor/acupuncture), essential oils, flower essences, energy work and many more. Some of which I will talk about below.

Disclaimer: The methods mentioned in this blog are ones I have discovered along the years, that of which combine tools (example: essential oils, crystals, vitamins, etc.) intended for use towards natural healing. I acknowledge everyone is different and that which works for me may not work for you. Through life experience and much received guidance on how to maintain a healthy life, this I share with you. Please note, I am not a Doctor nor do I claim to be. Questions or concerns? Comment below!

For information on how I got started with natural healing, see my blog post (to come).

Now on to, how to avoid falling victim to the flu. My roommate and I share a bathroom and both of our bedrooms are within a few short feet from each other. So when I received the text “I have Influenza A” I was in immediate reaction mode (fight or flight). It’s such a helpless feeling to just hope and pray not to get sick when there’s so much of that going around in the world. Surrounding it is fear. These methods can help you get your power back so that you too, won’t fall prey. Plus, if anything at least ease the mind.

Be sure to consult a Doctor before using any of these methods. Also, do your own research! The following are described as tried and true tips, based on my own personal (not professional) experience.

  1. EmergenC or a high dose of Vitamin C is my first priority in building a strong immunity to fight sickness. I always have Vitamin C on hand and use as a preventative and immunity builder.
  2. Colloidal Silver. Can be used to treat infection, viruses, bacteria and more. Found at almost all health food stores.
  3. Chiropractic Care. I’ve been an Applied Kinesiology patient for years now. Find a Chiropractor that addresses structural, biochemical, emotional and/or toxic imbalances to help aid in a healthier lifestyle. Are you in Colorado? If so, go visit Dr. Wendt at Life Wellness Center in Longmont.
  4. Essential Oils. I’ve used doTERRA for years now beginning when I had appendicitis. For sickness, OnGuard is my go to. OnGuard is a Protective Blend combined with multiple ‘hot’ oils that support healthy immunity, protect against environmental threats (illnesses), aid the body’s natural antioxidant defense and more. DoTERRA offers multiple OnGuard products but I use the essential oil and the Softgels the most. To browse other OnGuard products or doTERRA as a whole, click here!
  5. Elderberry syrup/concentrate/extract. Used as an immune booster, especially for cold and flu as well as respiratory. Can be found at almost all health food stores.
  6. Vitamins! Getting sick has to do with a number of things; exposure, hygiene, stress levels, internal health (immunity), exercise, etc. I’ve talked a lot about boosting immunity and as there are many factors that come in to play, another one to really focus on is nutrition! The vitamins I take daily are Omega3 (fish oil), probiotics and core level (multi-vitamin). I boost my vitamin intake a bit more during times of exposure as an added layer. Most of the vitamins I have I get from my Chiropractor but you can find the ones mentioned here at any health food store.

Other things to consider.

Yes, this routine can seem overwhelming but finding natural ways to avoid getting sick is something that is important to me. The following information may seem redundant but can also seriously impact your health and the health of others. Wash. Your. Hands. I cannot stress this enough! People, it’s easy. Not only will it help YOU stay healthy, it will help your family, friends, coworkers stay healthy too. Clean, clean clean! I live in a house with 2 roommates and 3 cats. Thankfully, my roommates are super respectful in this regard. The roommate that had the flu was pretty quarantined in her room, which helped to not spread it much to other places in the household. However, we share a bathroom and a kitchen. So after work each night, I disinfected the shared areas. Took me 3-5 minutes max to clean a bit and was not only piece of mind, but helped alleviate the virus in spreading further. Stay home. Have you ever had that coworker who shows up to work sick as a dog? Not only does that prolong your healing but it also puts others at risk. Same goes for kiddos at school, people out in public, family get togethers, etc. I realize some of it is unavoidable but please do yourself and all of us a favor and if you are sick, stay the hell home. Vaccinated? Surprisingly enough, I am NOT vaccinated (flu vaccination) nor do I plan to be. This has been a personal choice for years now. I realize this brings about a lot of skepticism from people, I get it, but to each their own. Surround yourself with a positive lifestyle. Boy does this make a difference! Exercise. Stress LESS. Give your body the fuel it needs, healthy eating. Rest easy. Stay hydrated, drink more water! Invest in your health today.

 

Thanks for reading! Do you have tips for combatting the flu? Share below!

Kels

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The Journey

Posted on by Kelsey Webb

Well it’s official, I am a Denver transplant! Made the trek across state lines 2 months ago and thrilled I did so. Scary, yes. Daring, most certainly. Crazy, you could say so. I reached the point of no turning back, I knew life had bigger things planned for me. Quite frequently I get asked what brought me out here, I still have yet to come up with a good answer. How can you explain actions that are driven by your soul? I guess more than anything, I don’t have the answers. I just needed more. You get to the point in situations, relationships and even towns when you just know it’s time to move on. I cannot tell you how scary that is. To not know where life is taking you but to just surrender to the journey. Is that what this is? A surrender experiment? Sometimes people make it look so easy. Even I don’t have it all figured out so don’t read between the lines here.

So what now? When I figure it out, I’ll be sure to share the secret. The secret to living life, not letting life live you. For now, take a chance. Don’t let fear be the excuse for holding you back from living the life you’ve dreamed of. Let the fear be what pushes you. The push you need get back up when you fall down. The push you need to look fear in the eyes and say ‘this is not how my story ends.’ So push through, trudge on. No matter how hard it gets, get back up. Life isn’t about giving up and giving in. Life is about giving it your all. So move away from home, go on a date no matter how much it frightens you, let people in even if being vulnerable is scary, don’t monopolize your dreams based on societal standards and surely don’t let the past be what keeps you from the future.

There will be times on the journey when you will face rejection and denial. I have been turned down from countless jobs, not everyone is accepting of my very out there personality and just when I think I have it all figured out, I get thrown for another loop. Don’t let that be a reason to stray. Stay strong and confident in your pursuit and one day, the pieces will all make sense. Until then, surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you, trust in the journey and give it your all. Take back your power, let go of the need for control and give yourself permission to feel love and happiness, even peace.

So make today count, make every day count. The journey has just begun.

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Best,

Kels

It’s Not You, It’s Me

Posted on by Kelsey Webb

It’s not you, it’s me. Change is tough. I find myself going through many emotions as I delve further into adulthood in an effort to ‘find’ myself. With that, comes change. In some ways, one begins to become discontent with the way things are going. I’ve finally grown tired of doing things the way they’ve always been done. I’m tired of giving into the fear and remaining stuck in places that no longer do anything for my highest good. You begin to outgrow friendships, contemplate your life purpose, become less engaged with your work life and wonder if what you’re doing is really all there is to life. It can be if that’s all you want for, maybe that’s your Personal Legend. If so, good for you! However, I have a feeling the majority of us struggle with these feelings and emotions, continuously wondering why the discontent will pop up when technically, you have all you need. I mean what more could you want? That’s not what it’s about though.

The Alchemist describes a person’s Personal Legend as one’s destiny in life. Paulo Coelho takes Santiago on a journey that transforms into pursuing his Personal Legend in an effort to understand the Soul of the World. When you align your life with your soul’s mission, the Universe conspires in your favor. Sure it isn’t easy. Santiago experienced set backs, confusion and at times, a desire to give up. That’s when fate would intervene. Fate would show up in the way of signs and omens that were given through people, circumstances, animals, Mother Nature, and more, as a reminder of the blessing that one’s Personal Legend truly is and a gentle nudge to continue on the path. I’ve been on this ‘path’ for 6 years and who knows, maybe even my whole life. People have come and gone in my life, experiences and lessons pop up whenever the h*ll they want, I’ve delved into my past and my childhood to deal with memories and feelings I blocked a long time ago, it’s still hard to let go of what has always been, fear is a nagging voice that sure likes to find the negative and then some in every situation, being comfortable is nice for awhile but not sustaining and making excuses gets old and frankly exhausting.

Sometimes I find myself holding back, hindering my own greatness. It’s not places, people or things that are holding me back, this is about me. That’s why when I say, ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ I mean it. Don’t take it personal if I move on with life and if you do, that’s on you. I’m not responsible for what is understood or how you handle what I do with my life. Heck, half the time I find it difficult to even understand and let alone handle my own life! I say this because I know this path is hard. Most of the time it’s scary, sometimes even lonely, especially at my age. “Feel the fear and do it anyways,” thanks for the advice mom! Sure it’s hard to move on from friendships that no longer serve a purpose in your life, it’s difficult to stand out in a society that suggests we all ‘fit in’, I spend a lot of my time still confused with what it is I’m doing or supposed to be doing, feelings and emotions are very foreign to me, sometimes I don’t handle things in the best way possible and relationships scare the crap out of me. But with the struggles, I can’t even begin to explain to you the greatness. To feel guided by a purpose, by a mission to make a difference no matter how big or how small. Being called upon to live out something bigger. To maybe not ‘know’ your Personal Legend but to trust in it with everything you are. That’s what dreaming is all about ❤

 

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Light & Love

Kels

Wednesday Inspiration

Posted on by Kelsey Webb

Feeling inspired today so I felt led to write it all down. Each post I write comes from the heart, sometimes I literally feel like my fingers are guided on what to type next and to me this is the best gift of writing. That is why even if my posts are few and far in between, there is so much depth in each one. So here I am, I give my heart to you and I hope you can feel the light, love and inspiration to which I write.

Mom and I had an interesting conversation last night to say the least. Being the loving and caring mother she is she was naturally inclined to state her worries about me not being open and being so shut off with my “walls”. This is particularly designated towards relationships. I took it with a grain of salt and went about my way. Just so happens last night I had a very interesting dream. I was being cut/scratched lightly all over my body. Having an interest in dream interpretation mom and I did some research. The skin is a representation of the “cloak” of a human being which in turn protects the person from harm. Well, well well little did I know how significant this dream could be. My interpretation of being cut in the dream was the subconcious trying to get past the barrier or otherwise known as my “walls.”

I built my walls a long time ago out of fear in order to protect myself from feeling pain and sadness. Fear drove me to putting on a “cape” in order to dismiss my sensitivities in an effort to be normal. I struggled all the way through school until about the age of 20 (when I started counseling) college included, with confusion of being different but yet wanting to fit in. I’ve heard many people say “I would go back to being a kid any day, I didn’t have a worry in the world” and I’ve always thought WHY THE HECK… I remember at the age of 5/6 being on the playground, caring so much about fitting in and being accepted. Here I was a little girl just wanting to be loved. Every time I think about that age it brings tears to my eyes. Even at such a young age life is confusing. I don’t blame conformity on society because society only got there with the help of each and every one of us.

So after years living with the fear of pain and sadness it has resulted in successfully pushing many people away from me and if that was you, I’m sorry. I know I’m not the only one out there who has walls or “capes” that keep people out. Often we believe that being numb and pushing away the feelings are actually doing us some good but in the long run only does more damage. There are a number of different ways people numb themselves. Some could be a form of alcoholism, addiction, working too much, overeating, sleeping around and obsession with body image are just a few of the examples. I randomly listened to a TED Talk today that discussed the relation to being numb and pushing away feelings or otherwise putting on a cape, if that’s not a sign I don’t know what is!

I have officially come to the realization, this is not how I want to live my life anymore, something has got to give! As scary as it may seem, being sensitive in a world full of opportunities to be numb and not giving in, is actually true strength! So I have decided to embrace the fear and go along for the ride. I tell you it sure wasn’t fun just standing in line in anticipation, the ride itself is much more fun! This doesn’t mean there won’t be ups and downs but like any roller coaster, being up is fun and going down is scary but most of us adventure seekers always enjoy the thrill 🙂

I am thankful for the hardships life has to offer because as long as we are learning from them, that is a life worth living! May life bring you peace and happiness in all that you do!

FEAR has two meanings

1. Forget Everything And Run

2. Face Everything And Rise

All my love,

Kels