Jennifer GobleMy second oldest sister turns 80 this week. She lives in Arizona, and when I saw her two weeks ago, I asked, “What are your top-five highlights of 80 years?” She looked at me as if I had asked for an impossible answer, and immediately said, “My four sisters.” After much thought and laughter, she proceeded: 2) “As a kid, going to the lake with my family” 3) “Moving … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Add doing to your wish list
Jennifer GobleI try to make my life motto, Live while you live, and it closes my weekly articles because I believe wanting plus doing is positive behavior for mental wellness. Not to be morbid, but it is a fact we will die, you and I, and we don’t know when. Therefore, it makes sense we could, would, should give a little more thought to our bucket list. Too often, we put off … [Read more...]
God Bless America
Jennifer GobleFor your mental health and mine, I’m focusing on the Fourth of July joy instead of current craziness. I woke up this morning with what some people consider the unofficial National Anthem, “God Bless America” running through my mind. With the help of 1998 American founded Google, I learned the beautiful song was written in 1918 by Israel born composer, Irving … [Read more...]
We and They
Jennifer GobleIn the poem, We and They, by Rudyard Kipling, an English author, and winner of the 1907 Nobel Prize in Literature, wrote, “…All the people like us are We, And everyone else is They.” Much of life seems to be divided by We and They. “We go to NJC; They go to CSU.” “We are Presbyterians; They are Catholics.” “We live in Colorado; They live in Texas.” “We’re Denver … [Read more...]
From apprehension to sweetness
Jennifer GobleI stood in line (wearing my mask) to check out at a megastore. A chatty woman six feet ahead of me (with no face covering) told me she only social distanced with her bedbugs, not people. She proceeded to show me what she found to fight the nasty pest. I learned double-sided tape on the bed legs captured them before they discovered her mattress. Because the line … [Read more...]
For Once, Don’t Do It
Jennifer GobleI have referenced Nike’s ad, “Just Do It,” while counseling individuals to make a change, to say the words, and to dream big. It was the title of last week’s article on the topic of washing hands, social distancing, and wearing masks. This past week Nike released a new ad, “For Once, Don’t Do It,” calling on Americans to confront racism in our country. I’m not … [Read more...]
Just Do It
Jennifer GobleColorado is now Coronavirus open with suggestions and restrictions. It reminds me of my Catholic faith when I first joined the church in 1966. It was a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday. Then, after the Second Vatican Council phased in, it was not a sin at all. One day I went to hell if I ate pot-roast for lunch on Friday, and then, voilà, I could fry bacon for … [Read more...]
Kudos to creativity
Jennifer GobleTwo thousand twenty graduates have been on my mind a lot during these COVID-19 weeks. I feel sad for them because they didn’t get a senior year, as the rest of us experienced. They didn’t even have the opportunity to get senioritis or senior-sneak. They didn’t get a prom or spring sports, and most aspects of college in the fall are unknown and likely riddled with … [Read more...]
Have a little fun
Jennifer GobleGoing onto my doctor’s portal to request a prescription renewal, I found the access had changed. To get onto the site, I had to choose a security question. Sounds simple—sort of like a password, but easier to remember because you have a personal association with the answer. Most security questions can be answered quickly and precisely, such as your mother’s maiden … [Read more...]
Include more than closets in spring-cleaning
Jennifer GobleI’m tired of COVID-19: hearing about it, talking about it, and writing about it. Let’s pretend life today was a year ago, and our main thoughts and feelings are about Spring. Aww, flowers, rain, and patio time. Mother’s Day is my magic day for safe planting, and deep cleaning seems to rise to the top of my spring to-do-list. It is time to clean the garage, … [Read more...]
Be the calm eye of the storm
Jennifer GobleOpening up? Phasing in? Wearing masks? Staying home? Social distancing? Air travel? No! Yes! Maybe! What are we doing? What are we supposed to do? As I write this article, governors and public health officials are determining what American towns will look like as we face the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m guessing we will have 50 solutions to one universal virus. I’m not … [Read more...]
Vegas in the dark
My husband had a job in Las Vegas, Nev., and I decided to ride along because I wanted to walk the strip and experience the feelings after the COVID-19 shutdown. I text a friend of our plans, and she wrote, “Vegas empty would be my kind of Vegas. I have only been there a couple of times, but the energy there is so dark that I could hardly breathe. Literally! I loved the Celine … [Read more...]
Lazy-hazy-crazy days
Jennifer GobleLiving in self-isolation reminds me of the 1963 song by Nat King Cole, “The Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer.” The title is spot-on, but unlike the song, this new normal doesn’t feel ideal or conjure images of sodas and pretzels and beer. Instead, I am lazy, each passing week is hazy, and we are indeed living in crazy days. I’m intrigued by the creativity and … [Read more...]
What can be so bad about that?
Jennifer GobleMy writing critique group has not been meeting for several weeks. I reached out to two members to see how they were managing isolation. One answered, “I was built for this.” The other said, “Fortunately, for the last 41 years, Bobbi and I have always preferred being alone together. I doubt it will change as the summer passes. I tinker with books; Bobbi bakes and … [Read more...]
Wondering and worrying
Jennifer GobleHave you been opening the refrigerator more than usual? Is it difficult to focus on the projects you want to tackle? Do tempers in your home have a short fuse? Are you yearning to eat out and hug friends? Well, if so, you have joined the stressed and anxious club. Even though few people have tested positive in our sweet corner of the state, routines are … [Read more...]