Show simple objects nd asked them to explain their use Hie answers wen : ed no problems and uw none At its wont mindlessness can help to destroy people’s lives as Langer stiaigMbrvaid: a screwdriver turned found in 1974 when she wss studycrows a iheet covered a bed etc ing patients and workers in nursing But when they were asked what else homes T argued that we should go the items could be used for peo- around nursing homes making life ple's crativity bunt forth: the sheet more complex not easier she said could be used as a tent for someone It's important for people to be in conshipwrecked the screwdriver could trol of their lives and the way to be in be a tent pec and so on "When peo- cootrol is to be in the active process ple see dun there’s more than one of mastering something It’s in the way of looking at things they be- mastering foat nundfolness comes in” come mindful "Langer said Langer found that parients who lived Langer and her colleagues have m the wards where they were required conducted a wide range of experi- to take charge of much of their daily ments which she documents in her routine—dressing themselves or two books In one experiment stu- choosing food —had lower mortality dents were given a reading assign- sates dust people in compeckble health ment Half were told simply to lem who lived in the wards where attenthe material while the other half dants and nurses saw to all their needs were told to think about what they Langer also found that nursing-hom- e were reading in ways that made it workers who were taught to think meaningful to their own lives mindfully about their work were leu When they were tested later the sec- likely to quit the workers realize ond group — the ones who thought that much of the burnout they expe-rienc- e about what they had read instead of ia the result of mindless turnover goes down just ’'learning" it the by a third” she reported way —scored for higher : "The way you cultivate mSndfok Langer told me that mindlessness is ness” Langer said “is to realize that also at the root of prejudice— but she information about the world around said the way to solve it was with more you is endlessly interesting and it discrimination not less "Prejudice looks different from different per- comes from the mindless assumption spectives” Bid many people oper- that there are nonoverlapping cateate mindlessly pursuing routines gories” she explained "You’re either rather than looking for new details Hackor white Jew or nonJew Most around diem The results can be dis- - people if they go far enough into their backgrounds will find that they are the Three both not purebreds The mistake we make of Investigations Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear in dealing with prejudice is hying to accidents found evidence that tech-- counter it by saying we’re all one big human group we’re all the same” foiled to routine— had of Langer reasoned that if we are years by inin mindful in to time of each other’s individual changes respond strument readings that would have characteristics — not just race and retold them accidents were about to ligion but also height weight talent happen The most widely accepted even hair color— we will understand theory of how Korean Air Lines that each human being is unique We can be mindful in any situation Flight 007 were astray— it flew into Soviet airspace and was shut down I anger said -- even when freed with all you think missile— holds that huge challenges ir by thepilots entered incorrect coordi- about is how you're likely to bil at a nates into their compass Then lit- challenge you probably will" she erally on autopilot they ignored said "But if you ask yourself ‘What cues from the 747’s computers to are 10 ways I could succeed at this?’ reconsider their course Like a drivyour dunces of success are much traveled same the higher who has greater Just noticing new things keeps B times hundred you alive” theyexpectway a ‘What I Wish Pd Been Told as a KkP has been 25 years since Mario Thomas Itgathered a group in her Hving roam and If (ok 23th-anmvas- Bji ed t Vsj At u If air-to-a- t i - asked "What do you wish you’d been told as a kidT Their answers (that it's OK to ay that girls don’t always have to get married and boys don’t always have to be strong and that boys and gills can grow up to be equal partners) became Fne 7b BelTUrn and Ms a book of stories and a record album 1 would have Had someone to have said diese things to me” Thomas tells us "Nobody has really solved diese issues and they don’t seem to be writing about them ia children’s stories now” The stories have mflurnced a generation erf parents and still are used in schools in 30 states 1 listened to it when I was a kid and now I listen with my kids” says Rosie O'DonnelL A edition inclining the sequel Tb this week from Running Ftere r is out Fn Family "These stories tell kids that no matter where you start in Hfe anything is possible” says Whoopi Goldberg who contributed one story Proceeds from the sales go to the Free Tb Be Foundation which finanres programs to conch and protect lads (rofjMPfornMMtoufwtfrgufromepailitoalS'hisiaiuwSOndui Break an Aim? This Cast Goes in the Shower able to train sweat and I eavektoapro I basketbalteam ptaybaL" Shea then bdoctor to pioneer Dr use of a waterproof cast you can wear it on the Heat's Alonzo in Mourning Ropy Setitafy (now with Ortando) and Keith Askiris and on the tennis olaver Marv Jo the shower si nananMMpcK a e Selesnickhasused a physician for the Mami Heat tested the cast on more than 400 patients from 1990 to Fernandez The cast which comes in a variety of colors and patterns has some drawbacks: It doesitt work for unstable fractures which sti need a plaster cast at first it takes a tittle longer to apply and it costs about $40 more than the traditional plaster cast and an outer layer of fiberglass that hardens when tipped in water "We started to use it when Glen Rice Ijnow with Charlotte broke his thumb" he said "He was T L v' i war I i iilA |