By Laura
The Obvious Contagions—And the Ones We Miss
As a parent; especially a new parent, your radar is always up for anything that could threaten your child’s health. You wipe down surfaces, pack the hand sanitizer, and hope every other parent is doing the same. Dropping off your child at school or daycare, you expect that if another kid is sick, they’ll be kept home. It’s just common courtesy… right?
But let’s zoom out.
What’s often missed in that expectation is why some parents don’t keep a sick child home. It’s not always negligence. Sometimes, it’s survival. They might be the only breadwinner. They may juggle multiple jobs without any paid time off. It’s easy to sit in a space of privilege and think, “They should’ve done the right thing.” But whose “right thing” are we using to measure?
This blog post isn’t about justifying illness in public, it’s about examining what we label “contagious,” and how that label extends far beyond coughs and colds.
A Personal Lesson in Perception
When I was going through breast cancer, something unexpected happened. Certain people started avoiding me. Not in an overtly cruel way; more like a casual but intentional 180-degree turn in the grocery store. Or the fake smile with a quick, “We’re praying for you!” before they moved along.
It wasn’t because they believed cancer was contagious (let’s hope not). But it was because they couldn’t handle the proximity to something heavy; terminal illness, vulnerability, mortality. It made them uncomfortable. It made them question their own fragility. So instead of stepping toward, they backed away.
I noticed. I didn’t get angry. I just made a promise to myself:
I will always move toward the fire.
When someone is walking through devastation, illness, loss, grief, crisis; I will acknowledge it. I will see them. That’s not everyone’s path, but it’s mine.
What Else Is Contagious? Negativity.
Not all contagions come with sneezes or chemo.
Some of them come with sighs, eye-rolls, and justified complaining.
Negativity is absolutely contagious. And we often underestimate how quickly it spreads.
You start venting. It feels good. Someone else chimes in. Now it feels valid. Suddenly, you’re spiraling. Every conversation becomes a complaint. Every room becomes heavy.
If you’re not careful, the venting turns into a full-time occupation.
Don’t Buy a Ticket on the Complain Train
Whether it’s in the break room, the carpool line, or standing at the Publix deli counter, if you sense someone pulling you into their pity party, gently step back.
You can say:
- “I hear you, but I’m trying to keep things light today.”
- “I get it, but I’m in a gratitude headspace right now.”
- Or simply excuse yourself.
Even more important: if you are the one riding the Complain Train, get off at the next stop.
Change the track. Put on music. Dance. Move. Pray. Journal. Shake the energy up.
Because negativity, left unchecked, is like mold:
It spreads slowly, silently; and will rot you from the inside out.
Clean House: Inside and Out
We’re all trying to protect ourselves; from germs, from pain, from bad news. But life doesn’t hand us a guidebook on what to expect.
So we improvise.
But here’s your reminder:
Examine what in your life is growing mold.
What thoughts, relationships, conversations are making you feel worse, not better?
And then…
Let. Them. Go.
Final Thoughts: Flip the Script
You get to choose what’s contagious in your life.
Let it be laughter.
Let it be gratitude.
Let it be resilience.
Let it be empathy.
Life is an adventure to be cherished, experienced, and felt; not merely survived.
So whether you’re protecting your child from sniffles or your soul from toxic energy, remember this: Your wellness starts in your mindset.
xo,
Laura