Page 4 - MidWeek - January 18, 2023

4 MIDWEEK JANUARY 18, 2023
YThe Nagasawa Conundrum
How do you celebrate Chinese New Year?
ou would think that now that I’m 64 going on 65, I would have enough life experience and confidence to be able to handle any embarrassing situation that
comes my way. Either that or I’m just at the age where I just don’t care. Wrong! Actually, I seem to be even more sensitive about embarrassing situations than ever before. Maybe it’s because I’m in the public eye or that I’m sim- ply sensitive about such things, as I have been since my school days.
ALTON CHOY
Physical Therapist, Kāne‘ohe
“We gather at my grandma’s house to enjoy a huge Chinese dinner with the entire family. We still eat jai on New Year’s Day and enjoy dishes like taro duck, honey spareribs and a whole steamed fish.”
LAURIE OUE
Retired, Honolulu
“My friends make and share their gau and jai every year. I look forward to celebrating Chinese New Year with the traditional foods.”
KOBY YUJI OMIZO
Electrician, Waimānalo
“My mother and I visit the graveyard in the morning and give prayers for the new year, then have a large dinner with family.”
WINNIE LEE
District Market Coordinator, Honolulu
“We usually make jai and give out red envelopes (with real money) to kids and co-workers. We also try to wear new clothes and shoes for the first few days to celebrate the new year.”
I remember in my intermediate school English class, I was in a spelling bee. The teacher would have us stand and she would give us a word to spell. Of course, everyone in class was staring at you and pretty much waiting for you to fail. Everyone before me were getting some really difficult words to spell, so I was sweating bullets waiting for my turn.
When my time finally came, the teacher loudly an- nounced my word, “Ron, spell ‘icy.’” Everyone moaned because it was such an easy word. I confidently smiled and loudly said, “Icy, I-C-E-E!” The class erupted in laughter and my face turned strawberry ICEE red. Since then, I avoid embarrassment at all costs.
Ron Nagasawa
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Compliment The Unseen
It is natural to compliment others when we notice something that jumps out at us. We might say, “What a beautiful blouse!” “Nice haircut!” or “You’re looking great!”
The first thing we often comment on is another’s appearance because 90% of the information processed by our brain is visual. While any compliment will make someone feel noticed in the moment, to make a deeper and more-lasting impact, go from the “seen” to the “unseen.”
What does this mean? Compliment them on their inner being versus their outer being. Compliment them on how you are impressed by their creativity, problem-solving skills, considerate nature, or how you admire the way they carry themselves. Compliment them on what their calming presence does for you. Character compliments hit stronger and deliver deeper.
alice@yourhappinessu.com
For instance, I’ll be walking at a shopping mall and hap- pen to walk past a couple of attractive women. That’s when I’ll start strutting my swagger and I’ll step on something that buckles my ankle and do that “bobble” thing.
Thinking quickly, I’ll grab my leg and say, “Damn MMA injury!” Of course, it’s too late and they’re covering their mouths trying to suppress violent laughter.
Or I’ll come out of a public bathroom and run into an old male acquaintance and instinctively shake his hand before realizing my hand is not completely dry from washing it! He’ll then walk away with his hand outstretched as though it was radioactive.
How about when I run into a female friend of mine who is with one of her friends? When talking to her, a small piece of my spit will fly out of my mouth and land on her cheek. She doesn’t notice it but her friend will have seen the flying spit in slow motion. I almost want to wipe it off for her, but that would turn the act into a total gross-out moment.
Or, I’ll be in the waiting room for one of my doctors sitting patiently in a vinyl-backed chair. Of course, that’s the day I’ll be wearing one of my cheap belts, also made of vinyl. When my name is called to see the doctor, I’ll stand, causing my vinyl belt to rub against the vinyl-back chair.
The sound emitted is identical to a chili bean gas attack. My only course of action is to look for the oldest guy in the room and exclaim, “Are you OK?”
rnagasawa@midweek.com