Judy Schmidt
A Personal Journal Reflecting On Aging
June 12 | June 13

	Reflections of Judy Schmidt June 6: Not Really A Day Off June 7: Wilma the Ringleader June 8: Hard to Get the Younger Seniors Involved June 9: Asking for Help is OK June 10: Making Friends June 11: Saying Things We Don't Mean June 12: Negativity June 14: It's Nice to Make A Difference June 15: Working Conflicts June 17: Wish I Could be a Hero June 19: Getting Busy June 20: Time to Slow Down

June 12: Negativity
I gave blood today and was very pleased to do so. But, of course, when I came home there was one of my tenants, who is a Jehovah's Witness, sitting in the lobby. She took one look at me and start preaching on how it states in the Bible that you are not supposed to give blood. I decided to retreat to my apartment. I felt in that situation it was better just leave things alone.

At the Senior Center, we have this person who just does not want to get out of her bad mood. Everything that the director and I do she disagrees with. I am not quite sure how to handle this. For the most part, I try to convert her negativity into something positive. Today was one of those days where I felt like speaking my mind but I decided that maybe it would not be such a good idea.

I remember my grandma telling me you have to pick your battles carefully; I've learned that the hard way. It is so hard with this senior, though. It would be very nice to sit down and give her a lecture. She reminds me of a little kid who is not getting her way. Of course when she is in her good mood she is very pleasant to talk with. I am hoping she can snap out of it soon, as it seems to bring everyone else down, too.

But if I let her bring me down, then of course it will happen. I do believe in the childhood saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." So I am not going to take the negative things they do or say to heart.

June 11: Saying Things We Don't Mean
I was very very tired today. The weekend seemed to have worn me out. The seniors at the center were giving me a hard time. There was one who was really let me have it. She was selling tickets all day long and she was not tired. I laugh about that because they do not realize that I'm up early, moving around, doing dishes, cooking, cleaning, and so on. They think just because they are not tired, no one else should be. I suppose sometimes I think that way. My grandma did, too. If she would wake up at 5 am, then so should I. So I learned early on how elderly think and act for the most part.

I have learned to not take things too seriously when it comes to seniors. Just like with all of us, we say things that we don't mean to say. So the seniors continued to give me a hard time but I took all in and did not take any of it seriously.

I told them that when I get to be their age, then maybe I will be able to sell tickets all day and not be tired. But until then, I need my sleep. They all seemed to get a good laugh from that.

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