The Wordsmith's Forge

Folks have mentioned an interest in questions and conversations that make them think. So I've decided to offer more of those. This is the current list of coping skills.

12. Accept a challenge with a positive attitude.

Here are some constructive approaches to challenges:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/flourish-and-thrive/201911/one-mighty-strategy-when-facing-problems-and-challenges

https://positivepsychology.com/positive-self-talk

https://positivepsychology.com/find-a-silver-lining

https://www.lifehack.org/569466/how-regain-your-positive-energy-when-things-are-getting-tough

https://emilyfonnesbeck.com/self-talk-how-to-make-it-work-for-you-instead-of-against-you

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fc/aa/c2/fcaac2e6e97e51f1803a3647753db936.jpg

https://ecdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Positive-Self-Talk-Poster-for-Kids-Teens-for-Social-Emotional-Learning-7053993-1627546234/original-7053993-2.jpg

https://theeverygirl.com/50-positive-affirmations-you-should-tell-yourself

https://www.kurtzpsychology.com/the-way-we-speak-to-our-children-becomes-their-inner-voice

https://www.popsugar.com/family/photo-gallery/38418508/image/45162797/Positive-Things-Say-Your-Child

The one I use when things are going off the rails: "No one is currently trying to assassinate me, I am not personally responsible for saving the world in the next 24 hours, if this building/vehicle catches fire there is an entire atmosphere of breathable air into which we can flee ... and thank goodness we don't live in a universe scripted by Joss Whedon." 3/4 of that comes from farmemory, which is great for putting current issues into perspective.

Today I made kielbasa meatballs and cooked them in sauerkraut.  They came out delicious.  Making small balls did not reduce the cooking time as much as I had hoped, compared to fresh kielbasa, but oh well.  I still didn't have to hack a giant sausage into manageable chunks.  This is definitely a recipe we will be repeating, because once the stuff is ground and balled, throwing it in a skillet with sauerkraut yields a tasty meal with minimal effort.

Using the meat grinder is a real pain in the ass.  But it makes delicious meat, which is healthier than most commercial products, and a batch of several pounds can be subdivided into portions for many meals.  For example, the kielbasa made one supper tonight plus two leftovers, I have one batch of bagged balls, another freezing on a tray, and more meat left to roll.  \o/  

EDIT 12/6/21 -- My partner Doug says that the kielbasa meatballs don't reheat all that well, becoming drier and tougher.  So we may simply thaw 8 at a time (4 each) instead of 16.