sherryderen

Don’t Get Stuck At Your Setpoints

It has been found that our bodies have some setpoints. These are stable and optimal ranges of some physiological characteristics, like our weight and even our experience of happiness. Research indicates that genetics accounts for about 50% of setpoints, so that means I have some control over the remaining 50%. I have had mixed successContinue reading “Don’t Get Stuck At Your Setpoints”

Designer Senses

I experienced a decline in hearing while I was still working, and made necessary adjustments, like sitting closer to the speakers at Seminars so I could hear them. After all, I thought, hearing aids were for old people, not me. But when I began having difficulty hearing my 12-year old granddaughter and often had toContinue reading “Designer Senses”

Childish Toys for Grown-Ups

When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness … C. S. Lewis I agree, we don’t need to fear childish things. Perhaps we can benefit from seeking them out and adapting them. I recently watched my youngest grandchild, ten months old, gleefully playing in a Jolly Jumper. That’sContinue reading “Childish Toys for Grown-Ups”

It’s OK to Ask for Help

Priding myself on being independent for many years, it has been hard to ask for assistance since I retired. When I was working I had multiple resources to call on – an administrative assistant, an IT department, a human resources department, and others. All were happy to meet my work (and sometimes non-work) -related needs,Continue reading “It’s OK to Ask for Help”

Mixed Food Groups

Having a family dinner party years ago used to be a rather simple activity. I have a large extended family, so the first step was deciding who to invite. After that I could pretty much make whatever I wanted to serve and the main question was how much food to prepare. But as my childrenContinue reading “Mixed Food Groups”

Illogicalities

I have always been logical and analytical, perhaps that’s why I became a research psychologist. So it upsets me when I see things that seem illogical. Here are a few examples of things I have bought that don’t make sense to me: My husband has a prescription for Rosuvastatin, which is a generic name forContinue reading “Illogicalities”

COVID Vaccination Mingling- OY!

I am planning a family get-together to celebrate my granddaughter’s 14th birthday, and facing the challenges of inviting people with different vaccination statuses. It reminds me of planning the seating arrangements for a wedding or other big party. That’s when you need to keep in mind which of your guests are likely to get alongContinue reading “COVID Vaccination Mingling- OY!”

Divesting

Over the course of my adult life I acquired many things. This included several homes. When my children were young we lived in a Manhattan apartment and bought a vacation home in the Pennsylvania mountains, mainly used on weekends. When our apartment became too small we moved into a house in the suburbs. This meantContinue reading “Divesting”

Passover Passed Over?

I have participated in an annual Passover Seder all of my life. I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home, and my mother prepared this ceremonial meal most of her married life, until she ceded the activity to my older sister. After I married, even though my Jewish religious affiliation changed to Reform and thenContinue reading “Passover Passed Over?”

Just in Case

As I look at many of the items I have accumulated in my home over the years, I see things that I have kept that are not very useful. As a child, when I left home my mother would remind me to take certain items just in case. This included a hankie or tissue inContinue reading “Just in Case”