Paranoia or Common Sense, That is the Question

I get teased by a lot of family and friends over my love affair with hand sanitizer and disinfecting wet wipes for shopping cart handles. Very regularly, in fact.

shopping cartsA breeding ground for germs. Photo credit: Morguefile.com

Part of the reason is I grew up with a father who was a stickler about hand washing. And then I had a son in neonatal intensive care for two months after his birth. You couldn’t even walk into NICU without ‘scrubbing up’ with Betadine and donning a sterile hospital gown. And if you scratched your nose, which would always start itching when you were finished, you had to go back and start all over again.

Throw in too many episodes of Primetime Live and other nighttime news shows and yeah … I’m very much aware of germs, about what unscrupulous food service workers will do to your food, and about the germs on most surfaces from people who don’t cover their noses and mouths when they cough, don’t wash their hands after using the restroom, and too many reasons to count.

But you know what (and I’m almost afraid to admit this), I haven’t been sick at all this winter. Yes, I still have to deal with some allergy issues, but no colds, no flu. With all of the sick shoppers and family members I’ve been exposed to, I haven’t caught anything.

I’m sure part of it is because of all the supplements I take in an effort to combat thyroid-related fatigue. I’m equally sure the addition of bovine colostrum (no, this isn’t an affiliate link) made a huge difference because this is the first winter I haven’t caught anything at all. But usually when I do, it’s fairly mild anyway. At least compared to what others come down with.

But the major reason, I’m sure, has to do with how diligent I am about using the disinfecting wet wipes on cart handles – and then using my hand sanitizer as soon as the groceries are loaded in the car. I don’t touch my eyes or nose either – at least not without a clean tissue.

Not to judge or anything, but a number of the people I know who tease me about my aversion to germs have been sick as heck this winter.

I’m seriously hoping that I don’t live to regret writing about this because I’m not bragging. I know better than that. Just sharing that sometimes being a little paranoid pays off.

What do you do to avoid catching whatever is floating around your neck of the woods? Hand sanitizer? Disinfecting wet wipes? Supplements? Teas and other herbs? I’m always open to new ways to stay healthy. Let us know in the comments below.

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4 Responses to Paranoia or Common Sense, That is the Question

  1. karenmcfarland says:

    Kristy, with all the people and germs these days, you cannot be too careful. I do the same thing. I won’t touch the cart until I grab a sanitizer sheet first and wipe it down. There’s too many sick people. And then the kids…need I say more? So big kudos to you for staying well this season. As a side note, please send me info on your bovine colostrum dear friend. I’d love to read up on it. Thanks! ((Hugs))

    • Kristy K. James says:

      That’s my opinion too, Karen. I prefer shopping at two specific stores. They have small carts (in addition to the full-sized ones). I like them better because frankly, as filthy as the straps that hold children in the carts are – on most carts anyway – I’d rather stack a mountain in the smaller ones and risk an avalanche than to have my purse get anywhere near those things. Parents of young children really should start having fits about that.

      Info sent and hugs to you too. 🙂

  2. daleamidei says:

    Awareness is definitely part of staying well. Between hand hygiene and limiting eye and face contact in public, I’ve not had a cold in several years.

    • Kristy K. James says:

      I really hope I can say that several years down the road, Dale. For the past few, I’ve had maybe one a year, but I’d like to say one day that’s it’s been so long I really can’t remember the last time I had a cold.

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