Every week, as I open my “Sentinel” file and stare at the empty screen with just the date in the top left corner, I think of the saying, “Time sure flies when you’re having fun.” In my world, it also flies when I’m not having fun. It just plainly flies. Time is an odd, curious phenomenon. We lose an hour and gain an hour with daylight savings time, but would we notice if we … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Balance is the goal and the magic key
Twice this week, I heard how important it is to be a human BEING instead of a human DOING. Shakespeare’s Hamlet, somewhere around 1600, said, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” My question is, how does one separate being from doing? Praying or meditating is a great way to get inside ourselves, but both also require some doing: thought, intention, purpose, desire, … [Read more...]
It’s time to “Spring Clean”
Now is the time of year when we think about cleaning cabinets, clearing the garage, washing windows, tuning the lawn mower, organizing closets, etc. Replacing dust and grime with squeaky clean and the satisfaction of a house ready for summer is worthwhile. I don’t want to minimize the glory of “Spring Cleaning” our homes, but let’s also take personal inventory of what needs … [Read more...]
Wasting away
A high school friend I haven’t seen for years texted me this week and asked, “Is your life interesting?” I answered, “My retired life is a lot of work, strange, and boring.” Had it been a phone conversation, I might have explained more thoroughly. First, it is a lot of work because what I do is totally up to me—with no obligations, my days are long. Second, it is strange … [Read more...]
Hurt people, hurt people
Do you ever wonder why some people are mean? What causes their spite? Hostile people can be male or female, rich or poor, have any skin color, height, or age, and fall anywhere on the education scale. There is no valid description of a mean person. We do know despicable titles such as bully, jerk, murderer, rapist, thief, or child abuser are people who have likely received … [Read more...]
SOS is there for me
Many times in my life, I have thought that I should not be allowed to drive because of how little I know about vehicles. Today, I’m thinking the same about my iPhone. Last night, my screen went wacky. All the letters were giant, and I couldn’t swipe or minimize anything. Emergency services received an automatic call in my attempt to shut it down for resetting, and my three … [Read more...]
Learning improves our mental health
A former priest in my parish recited the names of the US Presidents backward as a brain exercise. Impressive. A friend tried, with no luck, to teach me to list the 45 men in order. I met an artist, John F. Thamm, who painted and exhibited all the presidents in art galleries. According to Google, over a trillion books have been written about these monumental … [Read more...]
Spread much-needed joy
Driving west on Main Street, I noticed a woman walking. She was thin, dressed in a mid-length plaid coat, and wore a stocking cap. We arrived at the stoplight, turning into Walmart around the same time. Instead of walking toward the store, she crossed the street and gave the man holding a sign some money. He shoved it in his front pant pocket. The woman and I entered the … [Read more...]
Be you, that’s it
Jennifer Goble (Courtesy photo) Roses, hearts, and chocolates—today is the day of love. Whatever you think about Valentine’s Day, it has been a thing since 496 AD, and the history of St. Valentine isn’t a bed of roses—it involves a decapitation. Valentine’s Day started as a religious event and has evolved into a mid-February day for us to spread love to our extra special … [Read more...]
Meet nobody, somebody, anybody, and everybody
While organizing art supplies, I found the following quote by an unknown author. The letters were rough as though typed on an old typewriter, and the business card-size paper was yellow and aged. The creative message entertained and challenged me years ago, and it still does today. I hope you too enjoy it: “This is a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and … [Read more...]
Thanks to all those who make basketball games so enjoyable
We’re in basketball season, and I am thrilled to have three grandsons playing: one at NJC and two (11 & 9) at Wray. The little ones play in Brush every Sunday—beyond cute. My kids all played basketball, so I have spent many (MANY) hours sitting on bleachers asking questions such as, “What just happened? Was that a foul? What did the ref mean by that?” Besides benefits … [Read more...]
Nobody’s a living saint
Challenging is the word I think of when family and friends experience dementia. It seems to creep in slowly and never goes away. Dementia is a noticeable adjustment for the person with the disorder, as it is for those living with or around them. It is also disturbing and stressful. My sister has been in an excellent Arizona group home for over three years. I’m thankful to … [Read more...]
I like that sweet thought
A friend recently lost her dad, and she said, “I was able to spend 3 1/2 weeks 24/7 with Dad and Mom before he passed away at home. Precious memories.” I replied, “I’m so glad you could be with him. I don’t know if many people realize how comforting and settling it is to have that experience and memory.” Of course, her comments made me think of loved ones I’ve lost in the … [Read more...]
The impossible or improbable is possible
On January 1st, I went to the movie, “Boys in the Boat.” It was worth my time and an excellent motivation for the new year. It was a simple, true story about nine boys joining a university rowing team in Seattle during the Depression to pay tuition, eat, and sleep on a bed. Most of them had no rowing experience, just grit and survival instincts. I won’t tell the rest of the … [Read more...]
It only takes ten minutes
Jennifer Goble (Courtesy photo) Welcome to 2024. It’s 357 days til Christmas. Google says we also have 6,069 waking hours (if we sleep 7 hours/night) and 102 ten-minute segments daily. Our choices of how to spend this time are endless: We can thrift or throw away what we no longer use, call a friend, bake cookies, wash the bathroom mirrors, take a nap, walk, clean our sock … [Read more...]