We've all been there, no human has the strength to avoid it, all of us have experienced the common cold! *gasp* Yes, that dreadful thing that seems to attack schools and communities in a wave, dragging down everyone within its cold, unforgiving grasp. Within days everyone becomes mindless, groaning and wheezing zombies, doomed to search for a life saving tissue until the end of their days. Leaving only a few lucky souls unscathed, this time anyway.

Yes, I have been there. In fact, I am there. Which is what prompted this idea to lay out the 6 stages of being sick, which, from my knowledge, everyone seems to experience.

1. Denial.

What? What that a cough. Oh well my throat just itched, that's all. A sneeze?? Oh those darn allergies acting up! Feeling sluggish? Well I am a college student, I probably just need more sleep and less stress, ha! Do I have a cold? Why that's crazy, I couldn't get sick, my immune system is a champ. What did you say? You heard there is something going around? But I can't be sick, I have that exam/presentation/extra credit project due! Noooooooo!

2. Acceptance.

You just can't fight it anymore, you are sick and it's time to bite the bullet and see what the damage is. Anyway, you're a college student, your immune system is shot from the junk food, late nights, and stress, were you really expecting to make it past this bug running lose? So what is it? Is it a runny nose and cough? Sore throat? Stomach bug? How long could it possibly last? Is it going to interfere with that super important quiz coming up? Are you going to need to miss any classes? Work? Should you call/email them? All these thoughts will bombard your mind as you blow your nose for only the millionth time already.

3. The Shunning.

It can't be helped. When you show up to class because your cold wasn't bad enough that you could respectfully call in sick. Or there was no missing this class for X amount of reasons. Regardless you're there and everyone knew you were sick by your pajamas that never came off when you crawled out of bed. The tissue box snuggled under your arm. The wheezing sound that comes past your ragged throat and stuffy nose. And the look of near death in your eyes from need for sleep. Oh they know exactly what you are and they cringe with terror. They may cross their fingers in the manor used to ward off evil, they may beg you to stay away for fear that they may be next, and when you sit down they'll promptly flee to the other side of the room. But you can't really blame them, if you weren't the sick one you'd be doing the same thing.

4. I Want My Mommy!

Finally the sickness has hit you with its full power. You're suck in bed, weak and pathetic. Not even willing to wish this fate on your worst enemy. You're too tired to get up to feed yourself but you aren't tired enough to sleep. It's this point where you miss your mom, and desperately wish you were just a little kid again so she could take care of you, make you yummy soup and tuck you into bed with your favorite cartoon playing. But reality hits and you remember your a grown up college student, living away from home, and who needs their mommy for the ultimate comfort.

5. The Long Haul.

About now you've got things figured out. Yeah you're sick but somehow you have to function at the same time too. You drag yourself to meals or if you're as unlucky as I am, you drag yourself to your kitchen to cook for yourself. You've finally stocked up on those tissues you ran out of yesterday at the worst time possible and you've got enough cough medicine to last you a year. You grabbed an armful of soup, pulled out your favorite blanket and rented a good movie. Well you're sick, you might as well make the best of it.

6. The Light at the End of the Tunnel.

Just when you've settled into this being sick thing you wake up one more and suddenly you can breathe. Your head isn't as foggy and you feel like you can stand without the weight of the world on your shoulders. And just like that you've turned the corner. You feel like a new person! Suddenly the world has a golden sheen to it, the day seems more beautiful and you can enjoy it to its fullest. The sickness has passed and congratulations, you have survived!

Now go, be wild and free and don't forget that even the best of us get sick here and there but soon enough it will pass.