sherryderen

Joy from Nothing… and Everything

I learned something about feeling joy in the moment from my three-year old grandson Lucas recently. He’s a happy, active child, enjoys being and experiencing whatever he finds in life. He and his parents visited me for a weekend, and I saw so many moments of his fully enjoying life, I almost missed their meaningContinue reading “Joy from Nothing… and Everything”

Good As New

I am beginning to understand a change that is occurring as I age, related to how I feel about my health status. When I was younger and felt sick or had a health problem, I went to my doctor, was treated, and was cured. Afterwards, I felt as though I had returned to my priorContinue reading “Good As New”

Dialing Down My News Consumption

I don’t know what led to my being so interested in following the news. Graduating from college and living on my own in the 1960s, I always wanted to be informed about what was going on in the world- progress in civil rights and women’s rights, protests about the Vietnam War, and the optimism ofContinue reading “Dialing Down My News Consumption”

Making New Relationships

I have been thinking about the psychological concept of transference. It occurs when feelings or attitudes toward one person are applied (transferred) to someone else. This may occur in psychotherapy, when patients transfer feelings they had toward a parent or other significant person from childhood, onto their therapist. It is believed to occur unconsciously, andContinue reading “Making New Relationships”

Relaxing Can Take Work

When I retired, I thought that I would have more time to relax, and it would be effortless. That hasn’t been true. Because of the busy life I had, with work often extending outside of regular office hours, when I tried to relax it felt as if I was wasting time, that I wasn’t beingContinue reading “Relaxing Can Take Work”

Napping and Other Health Lessons from Childhood

I always thought that taking naps was something only little children needed. It usually occurred twice a day until they were about two years old, then once a day until they were four or five. It gave the parents a break, and the child often awakened less cranky than they were before taking the nap.Continue reading “Napping and Other Health Lessons from Childhood”

Differences Between Actual and Felt Ages

Most older people think of themselves as younger than their age. I am in that group. And I’m also one of those older folks who are surprised when they glimpse themselves in a mirror or glass window. Who is that person? She couldn’t be me— she looks older than I am, and looks like myContinue reading “Differences Between Actual and Felt Ages”

Making a Difference

I always liked the phrase “making a difference,” and hoped that if I did my work conscientiously, I would be doing something important in the world and making a difference for others. As a research scientist overseeing behavioral research related to HIV and drug use, some of my projects contributed to knowledge about these importantContinue reading “Making a Difference”

Thankful that Nothing Happened

I am learning that sometimes I should be grateful that nothing happened. Let me explain. One recent week had many sources of distress. I thought I lost my building entry card, that has my photo on it and would involve cost and time to get replaced. I was annoyed. Also, I couldn’t access my MasterclassContinue reading “Thankful that Nothing Happened”

Late Bloomer

The expression Late Bloomer is used to describe someone who fulfills their potential later than usual. It can apply to an adolescent who goes through puberty later than expected, or a young adult who finds a career path later than his or her peers. It is rarely used for a senior… yet I believe thatContinue reading “Late Bloomer”