Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well with the Carrie Connection

People who are very negative can quickly cause us to be unhappy too. Perhaps this is true because we all realize that there are many forces beyond our individual control, and that we are only one small person in a huge world. It is easy to allow a negative person to persuade us that we have little control over our own life, therefore, we should be unhappy.

How do you keep from becoming unhappy when you are around a perpetually negative person? The following suggestions may be helpful:

Don't join the negative person in his "There's no use trying" philosophy. Once you allow yourself to accept this "no hope" idea, your fight to be happy or solve a problems ends. Instead, try to make at least one optimistic reply to the negative person's statements of gloom.

Don't try to talk the negative person out of their gloom and doom. You're wasting your time. They probably won't believe you anyway. It's a better idea to suggest some possible alternatives to try to solve the problem. Maybe one of the alternatives will help.

Take your time about suggesting the alternative ways to solve the problem. If you suggest alternatives too soon the negative person will have great fun "shooting down" these possibilities. But if you take your time and listen to him maybe he'll get involved in helping figure out the solution himself.

Face the worst that could happen. Have you heard people say, "Yes, they can kill me, but they can't eat me?" This is a fun way of pointing out that there are limits on even the most terrible events. When you get the negative person to admit the worst that could possibly happen, it punctures his "ain't it awful" balloon. It can only get so bad, and maybe you can avert that.

Remember, persons who are typically very negative in their views truly believe that their perspective on life is accurate. They have managed to fortify their beliefs with many ideas that are rational to them. Respect their negative perceptions, but don't let them deter you from trying to solve tough problems and live a happy life.

The Transgenerational Kitchen

The kitchen can pose potential dangers if you or family members are getting older.

You can become forgetful and not handle food properly. Food spoilage is a special problem that can be serious for an older person. Vision and sense of smell dim with age. This makes it difficult to see moldy bread, discolored or off-smelling meat.

To avoid trouble in the kitchen, follow these USDA tips:

Check equipment. The refrigerator should be at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Know how long to cook foods in the microwave. Undercooked meats can pose a health hazard.

Helpful kitchen gadgets (gripper pads, etc.) are available if hand strength and dexterity are a problem.

Look for assistive devices (easy-to-use utensils and appliances) designed for older or disabled persons.

Get a bright, loud sounding timer for the kitchen.

If you have specific questions regarding food safety, contact your county Extension office.

When visiting an older relative

Be observant. Make notes of any significant changes. Talk to the older person; he or she may not be aware of the changes.

Ask what you can do to help with kitchen tasks. Remember, help but don't take over.

Don't forget the Nevada County Health-A-Rama and the American Red Cross blood drive is Saturday, September 9, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Prescott.