We’re so grateful to Grace, of Color and Grace, for partnering with us to share her family’s story! View Grace’s full blog post here.
With this new year, especially after 2020, we all need a new look to jump start a fresh and hopeful 2021, right? Speaking of new looks, did you notice anything about my hair? 😉 Well, I recently chopped my hair short and donated 10 inches of it to charity. My hairdresser was so impressed by how thick and healthy my hair was that they asked me what my secret was.
After she found out I was almost 47 years old, she REALLY wanted to know all my secrets for looking 10 years younger and healthier! Other than the ways we are all aware of (for example, eating more vegetables, drinking more water, taking a multivitamin, working out regularly, getting enough sleep, etc.), there are a few things that I do that have helped me look and feel my best for many years. These things have worked well in my own personal experience and have shown great results for me.
Tip Number One: I Vaccinate
I know this may sound very shocking and it may seem like it has nothing to do with beauty. I initially thought the same thing about vaccinations! I have been getting the flu shot for more than 10 years now and I have never gotten sick during flu season.
Getting a flu shot this winter will protect yourself and your family from the flu, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was a teacher and I remember there being sick kids pretty much on a daily basis going to different classrooms during the flu seasons. So I would get the flu shot every year to protect myself, my students and my family, and I still get the flu shot for those reasons. Personally, the flu vaccine has been very safe and effective for me and 11 years in a row without getting sick during the flu season is a great record for me!
I was happy that I was so healthy but I discovered additional benefits when I saw an old classmate a couple of years ago.
We are both the same age, are both very active, eat healthy and take good care of ourselves. We often exchange tips about wellness and beauty. But she told me she struggled with looking and feeling well throughout the winter months especially. She told me that she regularly got sick with the flu each winter. Each time she got sick, it took her about two weeks to recover. Her repeatedly getting sick had taken its toll on her health and her energy levels. She said “Each time I am sick, it pretty much wipes out and sets me back in my efforts to look and feel well for the whole year.”
I was surprised to hear how much the flu impacted my friend, especially considering it had been so long since I had come down with the flu thanks to being vaccinated, but it does make sense. How can someone look and feel their best while being seriously ill at least once a year, right? Anyway, my classmate started to get the flu shot for the past few years and she has stopped getting sick so often in the wintertime and has been able to stack on track with her health goals.
It’s more important than ever for Michiganders like me to protect themselves and their families by getting a flu shot this year. At a time when our healthcare system is already stressed, it’s important that we do our part to protect ourselves and all the doctors and nurses by washing our hands more often, wearing a mask and avoiding outbreaks of preventable and potentially deadly diseases like the flu.