by Assunta Ng
Northwest Asia Weekly
When Covid-19 broke out in Washington state in 2020, I wondered anxiously, “Will I get it?” Twenty-six months later, the question remains. But the difference is that I’m no longer anxious or scared…even if someone close to me has coronavirus.
Is it because of vaccines and drugs that cured Covid? Is it because of low mortality and low hospitalization rates? Is this related to those who have contracted the new coronavirus but have mild symptoms? all of the above. However, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the past two years comes from Americans who didn’t put their health first and died from the coronavirus.
I have a hard time understanding why so many people are against vaccines. You can’t do anything without health and vitality. Without health, you cannot achieve your dreams, you cannot make informed decisions, and you cannot take care of yourself or your loved ones.
Before Covid, I only understood the importance of my health in theory. I don’t make every effort to support a healthy body. Even after I went to South America to recharge, I was mentally stressed and physically exhausted and exhausted. It doesn’t help much.
The goal I set during Covid was to get back to health. What does a healthy mind and body need? Exercise, sleep, rest, hydration and good nutrition. Having achieved all five, I feel like my mind and body have changed dramatically in 2020 and now. It was like I had a completely different body and mind. I feel physically and mentally healthy now.
Covid doesn’t scare me now. We all have to assess what we should be doing to enhance our overall health, and I did. Covid will last for a while. People in my circle have contracted the virus, including two employees, my friends and relatives, but they have recovered from mild symptoms. Check out Covid-19 rates. It remains high, although hospitalizations are down compared to last year. The virus does not discriminate no matter what age group you belong to. They attack and infect you anytime, anywhere. To make matters worse, most people are infected and have little idea how and where they got it. Symptoms don’t appear right away, which means they can infect others before symptoms appear.
The restaurant was overcrowded. No one checks vaccination cards or proof of negative tests again. Airlines and airports are often crowded. People are not wearing masks. The public environment is more dangerous than in 2021. But temptations keep creeping in on us, telling us to go out in crowded places, eat in crowded places, and do things we know will take risks to make up for what we’ve lost in 2020 and 2021. What are we doing now?
Here’s what I do to keep me safe and protect my health:
Vitamin C or saline
Always have vitamin C at home. A constant ally, it boosts your immunity. Sometimes, I take it with me when I go out. Not taking risks is a valuable practice. Sometimes I come home top-heavy and feel sick. After taking vitamin C, I would stay at home until the next day. Make sure you sleep well that night. have a good rest. A good night’s sleep is the body’s best defense.
If you don’t have vitamin C, gargle with salt water. When you breathe air, Covid tends to settle around your throat and nose. Salt water kills bacteria and, to some extent, viruses. Don’t wait until the next day. After gargling with salt, rinse your mouth with water to avoid tooth decay.
Some of my relatives are more paranoid. They wash their clothes immediately after every time they go out. Then they take a shower to make sure the potential virus is washed away.
avoid crowds
In the past two years, despite my love for travel, I have only taken one trip. If a restaurant is overcrowded, I shorten my visit or choose another restaurant.
Masked Ann Lisa performs with other violinists from the Korea Music Association
Concert at Benaroya Hall on June 12 (Photo: Assunta Ng)
I prefer venues like the Seattle Symphony at Benaroa Hall, which still checks for vaccine cards or negative tests and requires masks.
Father’s Day is a popular day for restaurants. Our son and we arranged to celebrate Father’s Day at the restaurant next week instead of the same day so we could avoid the crowds.
Pay attention to your diet
In the earliest stages of Covid, people with pre-existing conditions such as obesity and diabetes were at great risk, and still are. Why not use Covid as an incentive to reset your health! I did it. In fact, this is the best gift Covid can give me. Longevity should not be the goal; live longer, to the fullest, without pain or disease.
If you need to lose weight, do it now. Exercise and eat less, especially carbohydrates and sugar. Even better, no sugar at all. It’s hard the first few days, but it gets easier over time. You can even train your taste buds to taste less sweet foods. If you need a substitute for the candy, get a bowl of your favorite soup. The soup is filling and satisfying. It will reduce your cravings. It’s not too late to start now.
From top left: boiled prawns with purple yam, onion ginger and garlic; vegetables with bone broth, garlic and ginger; three kinds of mushrooms stir-fried with garlic and ginger (photo by Assunta Ng)
Eat healthy. Try a plant-based diet and eat less meat. Instead, eat more seafood. I have recently prepared boiled purple potatoes; sautéed prawns with onion, ginger and garlic; 2 types of vegetables cooked with bone broth, garlic and ginger; 3 types of mushrooms sautéed with garlic and ginger. That was our dinner.
Prepare ginger and garlic (photo by Assunta Ng)
No matter what I do, ginger and garlic are necessary ingredients to increase the body’s immunity. They are my daily must-have ingredients because of their anti-inflammatory properties.
slow down
Compared to 2020, when everything on my calendar was canceled, now it’s quickly filled up with many events, including dining out. Now that most businesses have reopened and events are in full swing, we’d love to enjoy and participate in everything. Pick and choose, don’t be excessive or greedy. There is no need to do it all at once. I try to limit myself to two activities a week. Up to three. The logical thing to do is to reschedule. Think of it this way, we’ve waited more than two years to play or enjoy the activities we wanted. One more week to wait!
put on a mask
In many cases, I am the rare masked creature. I don’t worry about what people think. If they say I’m weird, I don’t care. It’s not that I’m afraid of getting sick, but it affects the publications of the Northwest Asia Weekly and the Seattle Chinese Post. I also don’t want to burden anyone in the family.
I’ve seen people make a small mistake and they can get seriously ill. So wearing a mask is worth it.
new habit
Now whenever I meet strangers, they often reach out. What Happened to Elbow Lumps During the Pandemic? People quickly forget that shaking hands and touching is a way of spreading the virus.
We also forgot to wash our hands before eating. Whenever you go to a restaurant, remember to do this before your meal. The first thing you should do when you get home is wash your hands.
I appreciate that many restaurants and events have rearranged to a new way of dining.
Frank Irigon accepts the UW Charles Odegaard Award in May
The in-person gala dinner at the University of Washington, honoring Frank Irigan, pre-sets their table with an 8-course meal, excluding dessert, for guests to enjoy themselves. This eliminated the number of times the waiter had to come to our table.
In-person gala dinner at the University of Washington (Photo by Assunta Ng)
Waiters walking from table to table risk spreading germs of any kind. The Fried Noodle Fundraising Dinner at Nisei Vets Hall has been changed to a drive-thru service to protect the hall, volunteers and guests. The fight against Covid-19 is a long battle. We cannot control Covid, but we can exercise the art of patience. As the British statesman George Savile said, “A man who is patient is the master of everything else.”
Assunta can reach assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
