Positive Psychology Podcasts

When you experience negative emotions, it takes at least three positive experiences to counteract the feeling. If one doesn't take charge of one's own happiness, it won't happen, especially if you are hard wired for misery. The podcast today said that journaling, even bad experiences, increases ability to cope. But my point today is that you can experience positive experiences many times by 1) writing it, 2) telling other people about it, and reading what you wrote.

Also today some scientist was talking about self-control. He postulated that any exercise in self-control increases self-control in other areas.

For Teacher Appreciation Week, one of the gifts I received in a cutesy little party bag, was a chocolate bar. I didn't eat it. It has been sitting in my cupboard for about a week now, a visual reminder that having self control IS an option. The school setting has multiple land mines in every direction, donuts, tootsie rolls, cookies, M & M's (I took the whole bucket to my office) I think I might make a collection of the things I choose not to eat.

Following Satan

Sunday in Church, the discussion was on the Priesthood. George raised his hand and commented on how he knew a woman who committed suicide because she didn't want her husband to lose his job as a Seminary Teacher and his ability to provide for the family. The woman next to me said "Well, I guess SHE was following Satan!"

It was my sister Janine. Janine's suicide was much more complicated than that. She had been severely depressed for two years and had even been diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder. But it is a fact that she felt trapped in her marriage and that her thinking was irrational. Was she following Satan? That comment hurt me to the bone, and I don't even believe in Satan. If anything, he was following her.

Saag Prologue

I put too much cayenne in the Saag. So I went to Costco and got a giant bag of Spinach. Not only did I add more spinach, but I also added the mustard greens that Noelle gave me, and some left over stringy asparagus, whirling it all up with my magic and fabulous Bamix immersion blender. Oh yeah, I also added some garbanzo beans,which gave it a grainy texture and went nicely with the stringy asparagus. And a pint of fat free sour cream. It looked ugly but it didn't taste like anything. So I carmelized some more onions and garlic and tossed them in. So, if you have been attentive, you may have noticed that this could be a runner up for the healthiest concoction on the planet, or maybe even the universe. Because I am so concerned with making these healthy soups, I do not have time to exercise.

The Mother Bear Syndrome

Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh! I observed a little boy in class. He had voluntarily isolated his desk from the rest of the students. He was upset when someone accidentally bumped his desk. He wouldn't go to Vehicle Day, which looked dang fun to me! He was upset by the sirens from the fire engine. He was very perfectionistic with his work. In short, he demonstrated a few Aspergers characteristics. His teacher thinks he's an Aspy, too. But I didn't want to do Autism testing without the parent's knowledge. So, I did what any self-respecting School Psychologist would do. I called the mom. "Mrs. So and So. While I was observing your son, I noticed that he did a few things that are typical of Aspergers Syndrome and I didn't want to do any testing without your permission." Silence. I knew by the silence that I had not taken a soft enough approach when I said the word "Asperger's", so I did the best I could at damage control and she seemed OK at the end of the conversation. But she didn't want testing. And she wasn't OK. Today she came in fuming mad and observed her son in class, steam coming out of all head orifices. The teacher did the best she could to comfort her and heal the wounds inflicted by the evil witch psychologist. I'm embarrassed and regret not being more empathic when I called her. I, of all people, know that when discussing a woman's child, you step lightly. Damn!

Counting Calories

Today I did not eat a 240 calorie Hershey bar, nor did I go to a baby shower at work where I peeked in and saw 1000's of calories glaring back at me in their luscious,chocolate costumes. I jumped back, slammed the door shut, with my back to the door, and breathed hard at such a narrow escape. Later, George and I went to an amazing quilt show (some of which were more amazing than the Mona Lisa)(Yes, REALLY!) and did not buy a $15 bag of sugared cashews. I will estimate this bag at about an additional 1000 calories. So if one pound equals 3000 calories, I only have 260 more calories to lose one pound. Using this sort of logic, I have gained exactly 10 pounds.

The More You Give 'Em, The Less They Appreciate It

Lori is an aide at Silver Crest where I work. She and her husband had one son and then couldn't have anymore children so they adopted a little girl at birth, Jenna. She has been nothing but trouble. When she was 14 she ran off with an older teen age boy to California to carry out a suicide pact. By a miracle, Lori drove down and retrieved her before it happened. They took her straight to a program for troubled girls where she stayed for a year. Jenna has been home six months now and Lori just found out that she called her old dysfunctional friends and they have been smoking pot at lunch time. She also had bolts screwed into her hip bones and they got infected. The other day Lori lost it and started screaming at her. Lori is the mildest person you can imagine, but she screamed everything she had been thinking for the last few years and more. The daughter just sat and looked her with no emotion. Lori hit bottom and said that she finally realized that nothing she did, was going to help Jenna. She came into my office crying yesterday and I was able to share some of my insights. But right now, Lori hates Jenna. It is painful to watch what Lori is going through.

Saag, Chapter One

I go to Indian restaurants and eat Saag and just love it! Even if it is ugly. Then I go home and make it following a recipe (I wonder if I have ever in my life actually followed a recipe with no deviations)and it is so ugly I can't eat it and no one else will either. Here I go again. I'm going into the kitchen to make Saag.