365 Inspirations—184: Allergy-Free Zone

It almost came to this!

"Well, you potentially could plant a lower allergy garden, but while you’re out there planting it, you will be bombarded by oak pollen, maples, grasses."— Keith Phillips

All this hot and humid weather in Seattle has caused indoor allergies to sky rocket. Humidity is breeding ground for dust mites and other critters. We don't usually have warm enough weather for it to be a problem, but we have had unusually warm weather this week.

I don't really have allergies. I know that's not the norm, but somehow I was spared the allergy gene. Before my husband came to the USA, he also believed he was a man of no allergies.

But that all changed.

Perhaps it's because his environment and country changed. I don't really know.

It all crept up on him the second year or so that we lived here. We were center managers for a meditation center in Washington State and one of  his jobs was to ride the John Deere lawn mower around the enormous property and cut the grass.

A year or so after that, he was plagued with one of the worst cases of allergies I've ever seen. He sneezed constantly for months. I thought it must be his karma coming around for all the bugs he must have squashed while mowing the grass on the John Deere.

Outdoor pollen is on the decline here, but indoor allergens are at an all time high thanks to the weather.

I will say that it gave me the opportunity to clean our bedroom and create an allergy-free zone for my husband. That was the bonus to all of this.

The room now has very little in it. We have hardwood floors, and those are ideal for people with allergies. I swept and mopped the floor, cleaned the blinds and windows, took all books and other random things out of the room, bought allergy-free mattress and pillow covers and new summer sheets.

The room now feels fresh and airy. I'm hoping Yoon will be able to sleep soundly tonight for the first time in a long time. Now I'm inspired to clean and allergy-proof the rest of the house.

Do you suffer from allergies? What do you do to overcome them? 

365 Inspirations—65: Visiting the Doctor

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."—Thomas Edison

Before my visit to the doctor last week, I hadn't seen one in THREE years. I am one of those people who NEVER goes to the doctor unless it's serious. I don't know what it is about hospitals and clinics, but I can't wait to get out of them as soon as I arrive.

I'm trying to change this. I have great medical insurance through my job as an ESL teacher. It covers both me and my husband. This is great, because he is self-employed through his yoga business and needs it.

He has really bad allergies in the spring. He never had allergies until he came to the USA in 2006. Now they are serious. He makes use of our medical plan and has seen both a naturopath and an acupuncturist for his allergies. He's gotten some relief from seeing different people.

I, on the other hand, have somehow equated visiting any health practitioner with catching the plague. It's an unpleasant, negative experience in my mind, so I NEVER go. (Well, not until recently)

But does it have to be unpleasant or even negative?

After seeing my husband get so much relief from his allergy symptoms, I've decided I'm not going to try and tough it out when I feel something is not quite right.

So a week ago, I went to the doctor. It was a pleasant experience. People were nice and personable and genuinely there to take care of me. I have to return today at 4pm to check on some lab results.

What's even better is that the new clinic I've decided to go to is right next to my favorite sushi shop and coffee shop, not to mention the movie theater. It's perfect.

Since I equate sushi, movies, and an occasional coffee with good things, perhaps the clinic can be added to the mix. After I stop in and get my lab results, I can stop off for a latte or crepe after. You see, I'm changing my mind about these doctor visits. They can actually be inspiring!

Do you like to go to the doctor? Do you go regularly or do you wait until something major is bothering you? What is your experience with visiting the doctor?