Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2021)
Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday, September 29, 2021 B5 SENIOR LIVING Keys for making good decisions Senior Living Scott McKay W E’RE FACED WITH dozens of decisions all day long. Most of the choices we need to make are no big deal: Which hat should I wear? Do I eat the whole pint of ice cream or not? Should I visit the bathroom before I leave for the store? Do I sit someplace else or move the cat? What should I write about this week? But there are times when there are major decisions you need to make: Should we sell the house and move to a small rental? Should I retire or find a part-time job? Do I finally need in- home care that I have been refusing for so long? Should I change my Medicare plan during Open Enrollment in October? In his web post, “Keys to Making a Good Decision”, Z. Hereford offers a seven-step process for making any important decision. 1) Identify the decision to be made as well as what you want to achieve. 2) Do your homework. Gather as many facts and as much information you can to assess your options. 3) Brainstorm and come up with several possible choices. Determine if the options are compatible with your values, interests and abilities. 4) Weigh the probabili- ties or possible outcomes. In other words, what’s the worst that can happen? What will happen if I do A, B or C, and can I live with the consequences? 5) Make a list of the pros and cons. Prioritize which considerations are very important to you and which are less so. 6) Solicit opinions and obtain feedback from those you trust or someone who has experienced a similar situation. 7) Make the decision and monitor your results. Make sure you are achieving what you want. While working through this decision-making process, you may also want to consider the following points. 1) Don’t get caught up in your emotions. I’ve found this to be easier said than done. 2) Avoid choosing some- thing you’ve already invested in when it’s not the best option. Don’t keep throwing “good money after bad” or what psychologists call “the sunk cost bias.” 3) Get a good night’s sleep. We tend to make more accurate decisions in the morning. 4) Don’t get stuck and do nothing for fear that you don’t know enough (I found I never know enough!). Or the fear you will make the wrong choice. As Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a folk in the road, take it.” 5) Sometimes “good enough” is the best decision. Older adults generally worry less about whether they made the optimal decision, which could be one reason older adults are happier than younger adults. 6) Don’t beat yourself up if you make the wrong decisions — let the chips fall where they may. At the very least, you will have learned important lessons. That’s a lot to digest. But when you have to make a significant decision, these suggestions can help you make the wisest and most satisfying decision with the information you have. Now, let’s see. Which hat should I wear? ••• The singer and ukulele player best remembered for his hit “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” and who married Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show was Tiny Tim. I re- ceived correct answers from Emmett Sampson, Michelle Hines, Donnie Bergstrom, Susan Ellis, Stephen Woolpert, Joanne Keith, Billie Maxwell, Lana Tepfer, Norma Sampson, Richard Shaw, Jay Waterbury, Gene Uczen, Kim Birge, Keith Blaster, Doug Nelson, Rhonda Spies, Patty Burnet, Barbara Young, and Eva Bryant, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket. Last week I missed Carolyn Burns. I don’t remember re- ceiving or giving this sign of affection back in high school, but they would often inspire quite the chatter in the hallways. For this week’s “Remember When” ques- tion, what was the name for a bruise created by someone sucking on your skin so hard that it becomes discolored? E-mail your answer to mcse- niorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a copy of the June 25, 2021, Cleveland Clinic web post about how to get rid of one — in case you need to know! ••• Well, it’s been another week enjoying seeing the stars in the sky before bed- time. Until we meet again, someone has to be the first to say, “I’m sorry.” ••• “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain.” — Vivian Greene ••• Nutritious home-deliv- ered meals and pick-ups are available for anyone over sixty. For more information, you can call the meal site in your area. Hood River Valley Adult Center at 541-386-2060 — now open for in-person dining; Sherman County Senior and Community Center at 541-565-3191 — now open for in-person dining; The Dalles Meals-on- Wheels at 541-298-8333; Klickitat County Senior Services — Goldendale at 509-773-3757 or White Salmon at 509-493-3068; Skamania County Senior Services at 509-427-3990. WHAT’S IN THE SKY OCTOBER 2021 October, the month of the Hunter’s Moon What’s in the Sky Jim White October, the month of the Hunter’s Moon, Halloween, the first full month of Autumn, and great stellar views when skies are clear. The solar system giants Jupiter and Saturn still grace our southern skies, and are joined in the southwest by even brighter Venus. Step outside and give the skies a look! Evenings are coming ear- lier with the advance of the seasons. The Sun sets at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 1, and 5:52 p.m. on Halloween. By the end of October, we’ll have about 10 hours and 7 minutes of daylight. The solar system’s brightest planets shine in the southern sky this month, well-placed for observing after sunset. On Oct. 12, the first-quarter Moon will join them in a very nice alignment (see the picture at right). A few days earlier, on the 9th, you will find the thin crescent Moon just to the left of Venus. By the 14th, the waxing gibbous Moon will be below Saturn and Jupiter. Compare the location and phase of the Moon on different nights, if skies are clear. It provides a good example of how the Moon’s position and phase change in our sky, as it orbits the Earth. October’s new Moon will be on Oct. 6, and the full “Hunter’s” Moon on the 20th. If you are an early riser and have a good view to the east, look for Mercury near the eastern horizon, late in the month. Mercury is quite bright, but never strays very far from the Sun, so you have to look for it right before sun- rise, or at other times of the year, just after sunset. With October, we continue to bid adieu to the constel- lations of summer, and greet those of fall and winter. Sagittarius, with the Milky Way’s center in the back- ground, is sinking into the southwest during the month. Cygnus, the swan, and Lyra, with the bright star Vega, still are high in the southwest. In the east, constellations Pegasus and Andromeda are now well above the horizon. A bright beacon in the north- east is Capella, the brightest star in the constellation Auriga. By mid-month, Auriga will be entirely above the eastern horizon. To Auriga’s right, look for the bright star cluster Pleiades, the seven sisters. In the northern sky, you’ll find that Ursa Major and the Big Dipper are very low in the north, directly below Ursa Minor and the Little Dipper. Make sure the kids have flashlight for Halloween, because the Moon will not be in the evening sky to help light the way. If skies are clear, their “treat” can be the bright planets in the southern sky. Enjoy October! 401-K Plans Start Ups- Rollovers- Consulting-Education Sept. is 401-K month. Gary Akiyama, CPIA Understanding the First Amendment is key to protecting our free society. Columbia Gorge News ColumbiaGorgeNews.com HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition. Need exposure? Reserve this ad space one week in advance, and support this popular feature. Sales@GorgeNews.com AKIYAMA FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC AKIYAMA FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Call 800-620-0950 or email gary@akiyamafinancial.net. Call 800-620-0950 or email gary@akiyamafinancial.net.
