A garage sale is a means to get rid of what we bought, no longer want, love, or use. Why “garage”? That is where we put all the things we don’t like, love, or use. We only move it to the garage when the shelves and cabinets in the house are overflowing. It is a consequence of excessive buying and keeping. My son-in-law says, “Yep, we buy high and sell low.” As I help price … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Live while you live
I accepted a challenge to write my thoughts on “Live while you live”: the closing statement on my fifteen-year Mental Matters column. I’m finding it not to be so eas For years, I thought my closing line was my original creation. Silly girl—I’m not sure anything is original anymore other than a newborn baby. Since I took on the challenge, I started with my good friend, … [Read more...]
Gardens as metaphors for a well-lived life
Arriving home after a long absence, I found a book inside my front door. I read the sweet note attached and thought it was an anonymous gift. I then saw the second page of the note, along with the signature. Her words to me were personal and so touching. Thank you! The book was titled “Tending the Wild Garden” by Eugenia Anne Gamble. It is centered around the teachings of … [Read more...]
It’s 9/11 again—time for gratitude
As I look at the date to start this article, memories of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2021 flood my mind. I’m guessing most of us can recall in full color and detail what we were doing on that beautiful, sunny, Colorado morning. I lived in Denver at the time on the 22nd floor of a high-rise, and was driving to work on I-70 as I listened to the first … [Read more...]
The risk is low, and the benefits could last forever
I heard this quote on a YouTube video: “If you saw yourself the way that the people who love you see you, what a beautiful world that would be.” Isn’t that the truth?The quote reminded me of a Valentine’s Day when I was teaching. I gave each student a large heart cut from construction paper, a business-size envelope, and a ballpoint pen. I said, “Each of you write your name at … [Read more...]
Scamming is common
I was selling a bedroom set on Facebook Marketplace, and someone attempted to scam me. I’ve sold over a hundred items, ranging from motorized items to earrings, on this platform over the years, and I've never had a bad experience. This one involved payment, extensive texting with the buyer, and a phone call with a customer service agent who requested that I send $500.00 to the … [Read more...]
A great book is a friend
Two friends have gifted me with non-fiction books recently. Last week I mentioned Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. The second, very different, but also excellent, is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. When I was down to the last twenty-five pages, I went to a restaurant because I didn’t want to finish it alone. I’m sure the waiter was worried about me, because my best … [Read more...]
Just tell the truth
I just finished 736 pages of The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese. It is a historical fiction spanning three generations of a Malayali family living in southeast India from 1900 to 1977. It is such a good read for many reasons, but other than his magical spinning of history and family dynamics, I admired the interwoven wisdom. One theme was lies and secrets. Last … [Read more...]
What cures and purifies your soul?
I’m not sure why I’m surprised every time a new month, like August, shows up when I open my computer to write a weekly article. Doing the math, it’s only 140 days, or 20 weeks, or 3,360 hours until Christmas Day. The older I get, the faster the years go by and the slower the days pass. Whatever the date, the week, or the hour, what I know for sure is that my most precious … [Read more...]
The weight of hate hinders every step forward
One of the greatest understatements of our time, of all time, probably, is, “Life is an experience.” With significant and minuscule happenings each day, we encounter new, routine, and repeated lessons. Today, I’m thinking about the word hate. If the word feels uncomfortable, substitute it with dislike. I experienced hate, defined as “intense or passionate dislike,” … [Read more...]
Together, we survived the adversity — magic
This past week, I had my thirteen-year-old grandson in NYC. Yes, I’m a little old to be so bold. He knew it was an educational trip, so each night I asked him what he learned. His answers were fun and funny because what he learned was usually not on my radar. For example, on the first day, he said, “I learned the airport is slightly built on the water.” I said, “It is?” It … [Read more...]
Extremes, are not where mental health thrives
Recently, the topics of my column have centered on managing stress, fear, and the unknown. Our political sunrises and sunsets have been difficult for many. Usually, we don’t know what’s changing, and what does is nothing we anticipated. It’s essential to acknowledge our emotions—feelings are genuine, and people approach life in different ways. Even if we agree with … [Read more...]
Fear is real—don’t let it move in
July 10, 2025. Isn’t it curious how a date can trigger a mind to wander? The days come, and the years go, and before we know it, we are six months and ten days into a quarter of this century. How does that happen? I remember the eve of 2000 when we thought nothing would be normal again. Fear was the basis of that event: fear of the world being in chaos due to computer … [Read more...]
Honoring our Red, White, and Blue
I love America — unconditionally. Yes, I see flaws; we all have flaws, but she still wins the top prize for the grandest place to live. On the 7th, I am taking my thirteen-year-old grandson to New York City for his “Grandma trip.” Two granddaughters made the same destination choice in the past. I didn’t try to persuade him to go somewhere else because New York City is my … [Read more...]
Little children show us how
I’m sitting in a restaurant as I write this column—the most interesting and insightful of settings. I see couples, families with young children, seeming friends, and servers scurrying and accommodating. I see nobody else sitting alone with their companion computer, as I am. It’s sad to say that I’m having more conversations than many couples. They are staring at their phone … [Read more...]