The season has changed in Western Oklahoma. The air feels different, the leaves are giving up, and the sun clocks out long before we’re ready. With it comes all the familiar questions about staying healthy in the fall. Some are modern — “Do I need another COVID shot?” Some are timeless — “Do I feed a cold or starve a fever?” And some are just plain nostalgic — like remembering when all you needed was a bowl of Grandma’s soup, an Afghan blanket, and Bob Barker on the television to make you feel better.
DO I REALLY NEED THE FLU
Shot (and All the Others)? Flu season in Oklahoma is as dependable as football on Friday nights. But now the decision doesn’t feel as automatic. Who do you trust? Doctors still recommend it, especially for seniors, kids, and anyone with health conditions. COVID boosters are back on the radar, too, along with shingles vaccines for older adults. Shingles, by the way, is just chickenpox’s cranky older cousin that never moved out of the house. Whether you get these shots is up to you, but here’s the real test: don’t let Facebook be your pharmacist. Ask your doctor, your pharmacist, or that school nurse who’s been patching up kids for 30 years.
STARVE A COLD, FEED A FEVER?
You’ve probably heard it both ways. The truth? Neither is quite right. When you’re sick, your body needs fluids and fuel — whether it’s a cold, flu, or just a rough day. Dehydration is your real enemy. So, the best advice is simple: drink water, sip broth, eat when you’re hungry, and rest when you’re tired. Grandma may have said “starve a cold,” but let’s be honest, she also gave you pie for breakfast sometimes.
IS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP REALLY MEDICINE?
Science says yes. Chicken noodle soup helps with hydration, steam eases congestion, and warm broth soothes sore throats. Is it better than tomato soup? That depends. Tomato soup is packed with vitamin C and pairs beautifully with grilled cheese — which might not be in the medical journals, but we all know grilled cheese has its own healing powers. One of these days, somebody’s going to figure out how to make a tomato-chicken-noodle soup and settle this debate once and for all.
MOVING MORE WHEN THE DAYS GET SHORT Fall’s shorter days don’t just mess with the clock — they can shrink our motivation too. But staying active doesn’t have to mean joining a gym or braving the dark for a walk. Sometimes the best exercises are the ones you can do in your own living room.
- Chair Tai Chi or Chair Yoga: Gentle movements that build balance and flexibility. Perfect if you don’t want to risk a fall outside on wet leaves and surprisingly calming when the world feels busy.
- Commercial Break Workouts: Every time the commercials come on, stand up and do a lap around the house, march in place, or stretch. If you’re still watching old-school TV, Bob Barker’s reruns could literally be saving your health.
- Can-Do Weights: Grab a couple of soup cans and do some light arm curls while dinner simmers. You’ll build strength and justify that extra grilled cheese with your tomato soup.
- Hallway Races (With Yourself): Time how long it takes to walk the length of your hallway five times. Try to beat your score once a week. No treadmill required.
- Dance in the Kitchen: Put on Merle Haggard, Elvis, or even Beyoncé — whatever makes you smile — and move while you stir the chili. Two songs is almost ten minutes of exercise without even thinking about it.
The key is to think of “movement snacks” instead of workouts — little bites of activity sprinkled throughout the day. Add them up, and you’ve done your body (and your mood) a favor before you even notice.
VITAMIN D: CHARGING YOUR SOLAR PANELS Sunlight is our best source of vitamin D, and it does more than strengthen bones — it resets our body’s internal clock. Studies show that the specific kind of light you get from early-morning sun can lift mood, regulate sleep, and even mimic some of the pricey “red light therapy” gadgets people pay thousands of dollars for. Out here in Western Oklahoma, we don’t need a $10,000 light bed. We’ve got something better: the sunrise.
Every morning, God paints us a “welcome to the world” across the sky, free of charge. Staring at the sunrise for just a few minutes gives your brain the signal to wake up, your hormones the nudge to balance, and your body the spark to keep its rhythm steady. Ten minutes of that glow does more for your health than an entire pot of coffee. So, step outside, breathe in that crisp air, and let the Oklahoma sky do what it’s always done best — remind you that you’re alive, you’re rooted here, and you’ve got a new day to live.
MIND OVER MOOD
The shorter days don’t just change our clocks; they can dim our outlook too. Call it fall blues, call it cabin fever, or just call it crankiness — it’s real. The cure? Get out of the house and into the community.
That might mean heading down to the senior center, where there’s always a hot meal, fresh fellowship, and now even new raised flower beds soaking up the sun. It could be bundling up and cheering at the Friday night football game, or in a few weeks, trading your seat on the bleachers for a spot in the gym as basketball season kicks off. And let’s be honest — if the game doesn’t lift your spirits, the French fries at the Sayre basketball concession stand will.
Connection doesn’t always have to be social, though. Sometimes it’s about building little reasons to get out and move. Instead of buying two weeks’ worth of groceries, try shopping Mediterranean-style: grab just enough for a few days, then head back later in the week. Not only do you get fresher food, but you also give yourself an excuse to step outside, chat with a cashier, and sneak in some extra walking — especially if you park a little farther from the door.
Whether it’s fellowship, French fries, or a few extra footsteps, the important part is staying connected — to your neighbors, to your town, and to the rhythm of the season. Around here, community isn’t just social. It’s medicine.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Health advice changes, old sayings get twisted, and science continues to update what we know. But one truth never goes out of style: we take care of each other. Whether it’s a flu shot, a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup, or a neighbor dropping by with an afghan and a smile, fall health in Western Oklahoma is about more than medicine. It’s about people.
So feed the fever, feed the cold, and feed your neighbor too. It won’t hurt — and it just might be the cure we’ve been needing all along.
BONUS RECIPE: TOMATO CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (Because why not have the best of both worlds?)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil - 1 onion, diced - 2 carrots, sliced - 2 celery stalks, sliced - 3 cloves garlic, minced - 6 cups chicken broth - 2 cups tomato juice (or 1 can crushed tomatoes) - 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded - 1 cup egg noodles - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning - Salt and pepper to taste Instructions: 1. In a large pot, sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic in olive oil until soft.
2. Stir in chicken broth and tomato juice. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add chicken, noodles, and seasoning. Cook until noodles are tender (about 10 minutes).
4. Adjust seasoning and serve hot — preferably with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side.
