Are You An Optimist or Pessimist?

There are differences between optimists and pessimists, of course, but basically it comes down to this, according to Dr. Michele Reiss: Optimists believe that good things will happen, and that whatever does happen, things will be OK. Pessimists believe that bad things will happen and they will never be able to handle them.

She mentions Weather Channel interviews with victims of natural disasters. Some of those interviewed feel lucky and blessed, while others say they are completely devastated. "The reality is a little of both," Michele says, and people can decide whether to focus on what they have lost -- or what they have left.


Most of us live somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, she says.


She mentions her brother who has a serious illness, but chooses not to dwell on the things he has lost; the things he can no longer do. She calls this "positive coping" and we can all learn lessons from those who embrace this attitude.

"Life gets hard, it's inevitable", she adds. We will lose people we love, we will encounter serious illnesses. Michele says we can visit  "woe is me!" but we shouldn't live there. And we can make a choice to celebrate what we have right now.

Dr. Michele Reiss is the author of the book, Lessons in Loss and Living. For more information on her, visit this article at http://www.boomthis.com/.

Remembering Madras Days

Spotted this skirt today while I was walking through a Big Box store. It brought me back to my middle school years when Madras was all the rage.

This was one fabric that was supposed to bleed when it was washed, and boy, did it ever. It also turned into a total dishrag when it was wet. I can recall stylin', in my Madras shirt and white shorts, at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh during our eighth grade picnic.

I liked the plaids so much that my cafe curtains and bedspread were made of a plaid just like the one above even when I got older.

Funny, but today I don't own anything plaid.

Remember any of your own tales of  Madras Days?

Thousands walk, run Race for the Cure

Even though I talk about doing them every year, we did our first community walk on Sunday, and I was glad that our first one was such an inspiration. More than 30,000 -- and by some counts 40,000 -- people turned out on a nice spring Mother's Day to walk and run the Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure for breast cancer awareness.

We ended up walking a total of six miles rather than the 3.1 of the 5K, which included steps from the parking lot and around the exhibitions, but it went by painlessly. Since a cancer diagnosis can be so isolating, it was heartwarming to spend more time with so many others who had been touched in some way by breast cancer.

There was definitely a party-atmosphere during the event, and this made it even more fun, as people remembered and celebrated. There were sad moments, too, when you could see an "in memory of" plaque on a young person's back, listing her Mom as her inspiration for entering the walk.

My mother died almost 37 years ago of breast cancer. Those were early days, I remember, in the fight. I didn't wear her name on my pinney Sunday, but she was definitely on my mind most of the day and would have been thrilled to see so many people supporting the cause.

Walking with a friend who is a survivor made me even happier.

Here's to a cure for all cancers that take moms, dads, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, friends away too soon.

Today's World of Grocery Store Shopping

Yesterday, I visited one of the new mega grocery stores in the Pittsburgh area for the first time and was very impressed. The Giant Eagle Market District at Settlers Ridge is gigantic,with amenities I had never seen before in a store.

I live in the North Hills of Pittsburgh so rarely does my car find itself on the south end of the city, something we all laugh about but it's true. I saw a lot of neighborhoods for the very first time -- and I have lived here for a long time -- solely because of my sons' athletics. So for me to drive to this store in the southwestern section of Pittsburgh was a big deal.

But it was totally worth it. My friend and I spent several hours exploring the store, enjoying salads at the food court, and gelato for dessert on our way out. I had a short grocery list since I had been to the store earlier in the week, so we were free to mostly just look around, and drool.

I think these stores are fun and interesting, but I probably wouldn't want to do my regular food shopping there. Just too many choices. Sometimes -- most of the time, I like to run into a store and get back out as soon as possible, the quicker the better. So this excursion was more of an adventure than a necessity.

We did have fun though, and got a laugh out of the fact that of the short list of items I had with me to buy, the store was out of bags of shredded lettuce. A clerk checked in the back for me and found none. There must have been hundreds of other bags of lettuce around, but not the ones I wanted for today's Cinco de Mayo's Taco Night at our house.

Guess you can't have everything!

Note: For the first time ever, I saw Brussels sprouts growing on a stalk. I never really thought about how these little green orbs grew since I don't like them much, but it was neat to see where they came from. Love seeing new things!

Spring = New Life

Spring is all around us. I picked up these growing plants from a friend who had planted too many. I know the feeling when it comes to plants. As these little seedlings stretch their necks to bask in more sunshine, a rare occurrence these days, I know I will be enjoying my own home-grown basil and cilantro soon. Yum.

Royal Wedding This Week? Who Knew?

There's probaly no one alive in this country who hasn't heard about The Wedding taking place this Friday. Prince William will wed Kate Middleton in a ceremony guaranteed to bring back recollections of his mother's wedding almost thirty years ago.

Kate, a commoner, would become Queen of England if William ever serves as King. Quite a lot to put on the plate of a young woman. She seems up to the task, and really, has been hanging out with royalty for years now. So she has to know what she is getting into, but I'm not sure it's something any of us would wish on our daugthers. Maybe I am wrong about that.

There are plans afoot to get up EARLY and watch the Royal Wedding, even though it will be telecast live starting at around 4 a.m. (EST) this Friday. But the lure of scones and clotted cream and pastries may be just enough to get some of us up and out that early so we can get situated in front of a big screen TV, endless coffee cup in hand.

I had the honor of making favors for this event and will be posting them this week at my Yeasty blog. Stop by and take a look. Directions will be forthcoming, too, if you are interested.

Send me a note and let me know what your plans are for the wedding. Oh, you weren't invited? They have no idea what they are missing without us there. Talk about the event of the century. . .

Wise Boomers Walk This Spring

Rain aside, spring is a great time to start a healthy walking program. By summer, you will be a walking expert and able to withstand the higher temperatures.

To encourage new walkers to get moving and stay healthy, many of the libraries in Alleheny County, Pennsylvania, are providing free ten-week Wise Walk Progranms beginning this month and next. The library's partners in this program are the Allegheny Library Association, Highmark PALS and AARP. (Please check with your local organizations. Similar walking programs are being offered in other counties, states.)

Walkers over 50 can set their own goals and walk at their own pace using a complimentary walking guide provided to each walker by the local library. Supplies, walking materials such as pedomenters and healthy snacks and t-shirts are also provided for each participant through the program.

But beyond these supplies, this program gets boomers -- and seniors -- out walking with friends, enjoying nature, exercising as prescribed by their doctors, and a no-cost way to feel better. You just can't beat that.

For more information:

ACLA Wise Walk
AARP's Create the Good program