Soul Journey Guidance

Today I marked something on my calendar: I am going to start drinking a gallon of water a day.

Not because I don’t drink water already. I do. My kids drink water. We are a family of water drinkers. But after months of being sick, struggling to breathe, fighting infections, and feeling completely drained, I realized maybe it was time to become more intentional about just how much water my body is actually getting every day.

A coworker of mine, who is a nurse, looked at everything I had been dealing with and said, “You need to drink more water. Aim for at least a gallon a day.”

So I pulled out my water container that holds 8 cups of water and decided I was going to start building myself up to that goal.

And here I am…

Lying upright in my bed, hair tucked into a bonnet, my sleep mask pushed up onto my forehead, a water bottle in one hand and tissues in the other.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of being completely controlled by sickness.

The exhaustion.

The body aches.

The endless coughing.

The headaches.

The loss of your voice.

The feeling that you have been fighting something for weeks and your body just cannot catch a break.

I have been on antibiotics twice in the last six months.

I went to the doctor because I kept getting sick, and the answer was basically: whatever cold I keep catching at work is turning into a sinus infection.

And honestly, it made sense.

When a Simple Cold Turns Into Something More

I have small sinus passages, which means when I get congested, things do not always clear out as quickly as they should. When mucus becomes trapped and inflammation builds, it creates an environment where bacteria can sometimes grow, leading to a sinus infection.

I do my best to support my body. I use gua sha techniques, work on clearing my passages, and try different natural ways to help my body recover.

But when you combine:

• A stubborn respiratory infection
• Congestion that lingers
• Sinus inflammation
• Post-nasal drip
• Asthma

…it can become a cycle that feels impossible to break.

Working With Children Means Being Exposed to Everything

After being away from working with children for about five years, I wonder if part of this is my body adjusting again.

When you work around children, especially in environments where new children are constantly coming in, your immune system is exposed to many different viruses and illnesses.

Kids can come into classrooms carrying all kinds of infections, including:

• Common colds and respiratory viruses
• Influenza (the flu)
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
• COVID-19
• Strep throat
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Croup
• Hand, foot, and mouth disease
• Chickenpox and other viral rashes
• Skin infections
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Stomach viruses such as norovirus
• Gastrointestinal infections
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Other contagious illnesses that spread through schools and childcare settings

Children are still building their immune systems, which means they often catch and spread illnesses easily. For adults returning to this environment, it can feel like your body is constantly being challenged while it adjusts to the exposure.

Then Add Asthma Into the Mix

Asthma changes the game.

When I get sick and everything settles into my chest, breathing becomes harder.

The coughing becomes exhausting. The mucus builds up. The post-nasal drip constantly irritates my throat. Every breath feels like work.

There is a difference between being sick and having a respiratory illness when you also have asthma.

A simple cold can turn into:

• Increased coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble sleeping
• Difficulty recovering

That feeling of trying to catch your breath while your body is fighting infection is overwhelming.

Why Water Matters

Water does not magically cure infections, but hydration plays an important role in helping the body function.

Staying hydrated can support:

• Thinner mucus that is easier for the body to clear
• Healthy circulation
• Proper body temperature regulation
• Normal immune system function
• Recovery when your body is under stress

When you are sick, your body is working overtime. Fever, coughing, breathing issues, and mucus production can all contribute to losing fluids.

Maybe my body has been asking me for more support, and I just wasn’t measuring what I was actually taking in.

The First Two Hours of My Water Challenge

The first two hours were interesting.

I drank 8 cups of water.

Yes, that meant lots of trips to the bathroom!

Thankfully, I was home, so being close to the restroom was not a problem.

But it made me realize something:

Sometimes we think we are doing enough because we are doing something consistently. But measuring it can show us the truth.

My Goal Moving Forward

I am tired.

I am tired of the coughing.

I am tired of feeling sick.

I am tired of my body fighting something for months at a time.

Something has to change.

This gallon-a-day water goal is not about perfection. It is about paying attention.

It is about supporting my body while I continue working in an environment where illness is constantly around me.

It is about listening.

Because sometimes healing starts with the simplest things:

More water.

More rest.

More awareness.

More care.

I will be tracking this journey and seeing if increasing my hydration makes a difference in how my body handles sickness, recovery, and everyday life.

Sometimes the smallest changes are the ones that remind us to take care of the body that carries us through everything