Mental Matters By Jennifer Goble This past weekend my husband and I attended the Tucson Festival of Books. It was like being dropped in a vat of warm milk chocolate. I sat in classrooms on the University of Arizona campus and digested wisdom, humor, and motivation from authors on the New York Times Best-seller lists. A large number of authors had written on … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Living a lie
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble I was cheering for Glenn Close during the Academy Awards to win Best Actress for her leading roll in “The Wife.” Her performance as the wife of a Pulitzer Prize author was stellar, and the story staged from the ’60s to present, was disturbing. The movie involved a young woman who scandalously fell in love with her married literature professor. … [Read more...]
Taking time off
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble According to Project: Time Off research, Americans waste 658 million vacation days every year. Not using earned days off is attributed to technology; being connected has decreased workers ability to break free from the office. I’m guilty. When I retired from my last teaching job, I had 35 unused vacation days from six years of employment. It was … [Read more...]
Celebrate GRAND-parenting
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble John Dickerson (CBS This Morning co-host) asked John Prine, Americaan singer-songwriter, “At 22, 21, writing stories about an old woman, where was that coming from?” Prine said, “Growing up, I was real close to grandparents on both sides, they just treated me like I was something off a Christmas tree.” As a grandparent of seven, I was touched by … [Read more...]
What moves you to the edge of YOUR comfort zone?
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble Last month, I decided to change. In addition to doing my usual activities, I added Duplicate Bridge and Iyengar Yoga to name two. I dread going to both. I’m fair at the bridge, but the other hundred people in the room are experts. They also never smile, so the air is thick. Doing my best still leaves me feeling stupid. Plus, in my second game, a … [Read more...]
To scammers, Shame on YOU!
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble “Messages” on Facebook is a means to send private notes to friends — or so I thought. For two weeks, a friend has been sending requests for me to text a number and get my name in the government grant money program available for citizens over the age of 65. Instead of using my phone for what it is intended — making phone calls, I sent back quick … [Read more...]
Have we lost the art of disagreement?
For mental health, we probably need to boycott television. I fear we are in for continued painful conflict because of — you know. We must have nothing better to do than get all fired up over political decisions over which we have little control. Once we vote, we are merely pawns an a chess board. Let’s take the topic of a border wall. My granddaughter, husband, and I were … [Read more...]
Anger can be a pressure cooker
I received an online question from a woman who was concerned with her ex-military son’s anger. She was also concerned for the safety of his wife and baby daughter. I’m sharing my revised answer to her. “Your son needs to control his behavior, not his normal emotion of anger. There are two rules for releasing anger. 1) You can’t hurt yourself 2) You can’t harm … [Read more...]
Between the two, what should you do?
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble Someone once said to me, “Are you ever going to be satisfied?” I said, “I hope not!” Not one of my favorite moments, but the question and answer visit my thoughts when a new year begins. Do our goals for the new year include satisfaction with where we are and what we are doing, or do they add a little dissatisfaction that might promote growth, … [Read more...]
Invite change to be your 2019 friend
On this day after Christmas, you can enjoy the calm after the storm. Relax and rest. While you are recovering, write the answer to two questions: 1) What awesome things did I do this holiday season worth repeating next year? 2) What did I do that was not worth the cost or effort? Write your responses today while the festivities are fresh on your mind. Before stacking … [Read more...]
Let there be light
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble On this lazy Sunday morning, I’m in the process of thinking about going to church. I’m in my full closet looking at nothing to wear, and the lights go off. After a call to the fire department, I learn it’s a transformer. (Whatever that is) Now, it’s too late for church. I start to reach for a cup to make coffee. Oh, no power. I decide to work on … [Read more...]
Do YOU follow YOUR advice?
A framed cross-stitch had the message, “Take MY ADVICE. I’m NOT Using IT.” As I stood looking at the sign, with disgust, I said, “There you go, Jennifer – This reminder is for YOU!” I spent the last four weeks engulfed in self-imposed stress because of appointments, deadlines, computer classes, obligations, and projects, all of which I had control. I write this weekly … [Read more...]
Healthcare and Christmas
As we begin the last month in 2018, a month of joy, stress, faith, family, frustration, entertaining, and credit cards, I am writing about our U.S. healthcare. There are a lot of similarities between the Christmas holidays and healthcare: supplement insurance, deductibles, co-insurance, longterm care, fee-for-service, generic vs. brand, donut holes, drug levels, open … [Read more...]
Meet a genuine, quality human
I offered my hand and said, “I’m so honored to meet you.” Lou Holtz, with an easy smile, looked at me with sparkling eyes and said, “I don’t know who you are, but I thank you so much.” I was in the presence of a genuine, quality human. The following morning, the gentle guru was the conference keynote speaker. His endless football coach accolades and his … [Read more...]
Giving and receiving thanks
As we enjoy feasting with family and friends this Thanksgiving, give recognition to your gratitude list, but remember thankfulness works both ways. Pay attention also Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble to how others show gratefulness for you. Reflect on how you earned such a high honor. The dynamics of thankfulness is similar to balancing giving and receiving. To be an authentic … [Read more...]