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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2017)
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Fit For Sisters Andrew Luscutoff Columnist The health effects of optimism Everyone knows that person who is always sing- ing the sweet song of opti- mistic, encouraging, and happy thoughts. To an out- sider, this person may seem blind to the struggles, strife, and sirens of the crumbling world around us. They may even be an annoyance when they cannot seem to care about how bad the weather is, or the results of the previous election cycle. These people cruise through life with a rose- colored shade. Are they on to something? Do people who see the bright in every- thing life a longer, healthier life? When terminal illness does arrive, do they live longer? Science is now saying that the outlook a person has generally affects their longevity in two distinct areas: when they are faced with a serious condition, and while aging into the later years of life. Outlook definitively predicts qual- ity of life despite the chal- lenges they faced, accord- ing to the researchers. This revelation was so profound that some treatment therapy now includes positive emo- tional training for condi- tions such as cancer and HIV. Our brain reacts to the world around it with dif- ferent responses. It would be impossible to say that minor annoyances don’t provide a negative reac- tion in the brain; they do. The trick seems to be how fast the negative response is turned around and thoughts recover. Neuroscientists from the University of Wisconsin show that peo- ple whose brains recover slower from a negative emotion (ie. they stew in negativity) are much more likely to suffer from a vari- ety of health conditions. Our minds, however, are trainable, and the research- ers focused on a six-week training course to sup- port positivity. They found that in as little two weeks in some they were able to make changes in the brain’s circuitry. In The Journals of Gerontology, one study published the effects of compounding positivity. A single simple positive thought can get the ball rolling, building a chain of positive thoughts. The interesting discovery was that people with the mind- set training to produce positivity had lower blood levels of C-reactive pro- teins. This is a marker of stress in the body, which can cause inflam- mation, heart conditions, and a whole host of other problems. What are some ways to turn that frown upside d o w n ? D r. B a r b a r a Fredrickson, a positive thinking researcher from the University of North Carolina recommends: Doing good for others; take a moment to appreci- ate; develop strong rela- tionships; establish and work towards a goal; learn something new; accept yourself, flaws and all; practice resilience; practice mindfulness. Take a moment, relax, and flip the switch to a more positive mindset. It’ll change your perspective on the world around you, and impact your health for the better. Your Care Can Treat You For Your Allergy Symptoms Today! PHOTO PROVIDED Garden-focused education is taking off in Central Oregon — and especially in Sisters. Garden educators meet in Sisters Last week, the Central Oregon Garden Educators Network met in Sisters for a garden tour. They started at Seed to Table Farm, then the Sisters High School green- house, followed by a work party at Sisters Elementary School. “We believe successful school gardens require well- informed educators that can learn from and support each other,” said Lauren Williams, membership and commu- nications manager with the network. “That’s why we launched the Central Oregon Garden Educators Network last fall. Going forward, we will expand and sustain our network to provide regular training, networking events for peer-to-peer learning, problem-solving, resource sharing; and garden tours.” Sweet Summertime… Exceptional E x cept c e p t i o n a l Cu Cuisine C u i s i n e at a t the t h e M Metolius e eto t o l i u us s R River i v ve e r Walk-in • Urgent Care • Occupational Medicine 541-548-2899 3818 SW 21st Pl. 5 Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds) YourCareMedical.com 7 O O O W W.-S. .- . S S . . ؏ .. J Call 541-595-6420 for Reservations www.kokaneecafe.com
