Mental MattersJennifer Goble High school basketball season just wound-down, and I extend sincere congratulations to Peetz and Yuma for their successes. But, many teams we support did not win. I remember when my kids played sports, and I was ecstatic when they won because they felt on top of their world. The celebrations and reliving the victorious plays in the game were … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
What do others think of you?
Mental MattersJennifer Goble Ann Landers said, “At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” Although partially accurate, she was jesting, because, in truth, people do think of others. In fact, I’ve had a total stranger on my mind this week. Let’s call him … [Read more...]
Connect with people, not your age
Mental Matters By Jennifer Goble I have years experience of living and working with teenage girls. For example; four sisters, one daughter, four granddaughters, teaching home economics, counseling in schools, and teaching at universities. Even so, I don’t consider myself an expert on the subject of teenage girls; each is too unique. I only know they enrich my life. I recently … [Read more...]
How do YOU stay in a range of happy?
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble I’ve been thinking about happiness lately. A distant relative by marriage died by suicide two weeks ago. He was 30 years old. I heard people speak about him being in a dark place. He was a fire-fighter, EMT, and a medic for the SWAT crew. He was talented, respected, and loved. He knew from experience the pain caused by suicide and had resources … [Read more...]
What makes YOU smile on Valentine’s Day?
Mental MattersBy Jennifer Goble In my years of Valentines Days, I have had everything from nothing, not even a sweet thought, to roses, loving cards, and trips to the beach. As I think to the past, the most treasured expressions of love were simple. My mother, God bless her, always sent children’s paper valentines in an envelope postmarked from Loveland, CO. I knew she spent a … [Read more...]
I’m back
Mental Matters Jennifer Goble Seeing the South Platte Sentinel’s call for columnists, pondering the pros and cons, sending a note of interest, and receiving, “We would love to have you write again,” I’m back. Knowing the power of our thoughts, I am happy to share my mental wellness thoughts again. Thank you to everyone who told me, my husband, or my family you enjoyed the … [Read more...]
Take care of yourself: Parents matter too
We are going on a vacation, and I am writing this three weeks in advance of publication. I wrote it on July 10, and when I saved this article as 8-3-16, I thought, “oh no, it’s August.” The county fair is coming and then school starts. The realization almost gave me a headache and I don’t even have little kids at home. As a grandma, I have empathy for my adult children … [Read more...]
Life is too short to procrastinate
My sister’s doctor said to her, “You have gone through chemotherapy, hospitalization, and nasty medications in order to live, so go live!” So go live! What great advice. Three words we should all live by even if we haven’t had a life-threatening diagnosis. I’ve never understood why we need a catastrophic event in order to get our lives and priorities in order. Sadly, it is … [Read more...]
Life is a journey that depends on mental wellness
This week, a special, young family had their first baby boy…I heard from friends their 30-year-old granddaughter had a severe stroke… An Arizona friend told me she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and her mother died from the same disease… I had a lengthy conversation with a neighbor about getting older, aging parents, and the fear of how death would … [Read more...]
Money can’t buy the 86,400 second in a day back
I have basically wasted away half of my day. I slept in, played Words With Friends, watched the “Price is Right,” and didn’t dress until noon. I had lunch with a friend, and returned home. In a computer search, I found this appropriate, anonymous story. Imagine you won a contest, and your prize was $86,400 each and every day of your life. It was deposited into your … [Read more...]
A ‘Plan B’ can alleviate anxiety
Last Thursday, I tied a sweatshirt around my waist, grabbed my backpack and headed downtown to the Farmer’s Market. I made sure I had my phone and Bluetooth, and sketchbook. I headed out the door for a great afternoon in Estes. I walked to the end of the road, and it started to sprinkle. I looked at the sky, moaned, grumbled, and turned around and went back home. How … [Read more...]
Peace begins with speaking out against ignorance
I am writing this on Monday morning after the 6-12-16 Orlando shooting. I am sick and sad of hate, guns, blood, tears, police sirens, pain, panic, and chaos. STOP. Please, STOP! This killing in our great country makes me want to get on the roof and scream, at the top of my lungs, STOP, just STOP. Following is a poem I wrote several years ago, but it is still … [Read more...]
Like Gerald the giraffe, men can be great role models
If anyone saw me at Columbine Park last week, I was not merely weird, I was reading and participating in the Story Walk in the Park stations sponsored by Friends of the Sterling Public Library. Reading a story as I walked was SO delightful. As directed, at one station I twirled around and bowed, at another I stretched my neck and looked at the moon and stars, at another … [Read more...]
‘We learn from failure not success’
Neil Gaiman, English author of the comic book series “The Sandman,” said, “Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. “Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here.” I don’t know about you, but I have made plenty of mistakes in my life, so I’m glad to know mistakes have value. When I … [Read more...]
Fear can be a safe place, debilitating or both
I recently wondered upon an art store closing. My brain was over-stimulated, next to chaotic; brushes, acrylics, oils, mats, frames, canvases, framed originals, plus all the fixtures. As I browsed, I noticed my last name printed on a children’s picture book – “Buffalo Woman, written and illustrated by Paul Goble. The vivid cover included bisons standing in front … [Read more...]