Rural Women ... Rural Stories

Mental MattersJennifer Goble Knowing WHY you want to change your behavior is crucial if you desire success. For example, I used to love smoking. I would still be enjoying the feeling of sitting down, putting my feet up, and relaxing with the sweet intake of menthol, (Ahhh) if I didn’t know it would affect my breathing and likely cause an early, painful death. I threw my … [Read more...]

Mental MattersJennifer Goble On the day of this writing, my American Flag flies at half-staff because Barbara Bush died last night, April 17, 2018. She was the wise and witty matriarch of her prominent Republican family. I enjoyed all the news about her authentic personality, the love story with her husband, the 100 plus scrapbooks she created over the years, and her apparent … [Read more...]

Mental MattersJennifer Goble Spring is the season between winter and summer. It is also defined as moving upward or forward in a single quick motion, or a small stream of water flowing naturally from the earth. No matter what Webster calls it, to me, right now, spring is a pain. I have been working in the yard, and my whole body is crying for a reprieve. Moving rock, raking, … [Read more...]

Mental MattersJennifer Goble Resilience is the ability to bounce back after life dumps on you. Think about the elastic in a fitted sheet, waistband, or swimsuit. It springs back into shape after it’s stretched; it’s called resilience. I had the opportunity to hear Christian Moore, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and author of The Resilience Breakthrough: 27 Tools for Turning … [Read more...]

Mental MattersJennifer Goble On CBS Sunday morning, Don Imus, coined as the iron man of morning radio, was interviewed because he is retiring after 50 years at the mic. When asked what he would miss, he choked up and said, “I always had it in my head that I was talking to one person. I felt that when I walked in there and sat down and turned the mic on, that I was talking to … [Read more...]

Mental MattersJennifer Goble They married sixty years ago when both were barely out of high school. They raised four children on the ranch she inherited from her parents. I heard him described as, “He was ugly mean. He didn’t like anyone, not even himself.” Right before he died, five years ago, unknown to his wife or kids, he secretly sold all but eight acres of the ranch and … [Read more...]

Mental MattersJennifer Goble On CBS Sunday Morning, Joan Baez, the world’s most famous female folk singer and a global activist, was interviewed after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One of her songs, inspired by memories of her brief love relationship with Bob Dylan, is called “Diamonds and Rust.’ The title and lyrics struck me as a visual for the topic of … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]