There is a lot of hubbub about Artificial Intelligence (AI). I know zero about it, but I decided to pick a mental health topic, “Getting a good night’s sleep,” and ask AI. You be the judge. Mine: written 3-5-23—449 words: https://jennifergoble.com/may-the-devil-leave-you-alone/ Here is what I received from AI—350 words: “Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Lying steals our Freedom
We often hear Freedom as a right: “Freedom of speech, to bear arms, of worship,” and so on. We also hear, “Freedom is not free,” “America the free,” and “Freedom for all.” I watched a movie called “Good,” with David Keith and Justin Etheredge. It was a rich story about death and forgiveness, but what I gained was the power and strength of truth. Much of what hooks or adds … [Read more...]
You are the chooser—be choosy
I’ve been thinking lately about friends. It’s common knowledge that true friends are a lifeline to improved mental health. Picture a target. The goal is to hit the bullseye, the small circle in the center. Now, think of the target as representing people in your life. The individuals in the bullseye are your closest, dearest, and most important. You trust and love them—you … [Read more...]
Smirk, smile, and belly laugh
Yesterday was my daughter’s and my birthday. As long as I can add and subtract, I will know how old I am because she was born the day I turned twenty-five. She was the best birthday present ever. As I add another year to my age, it is far too easy to look back and think what the heck—more than a half-century has passed since my mother, who had five girls, walked into the … [Read more...]
Talk, laugh, and cry about it
The other day, I was laughing with a friend over coffee about living long enough to experience the whole lifecycle. The conversation included going from diapers to diapers, which is what we usually hear. Still, we also agreed on similarities between being a baby or small child and being on the last leg of life. We laughed not because it was so funny but because it was … [Read more...]
When all else fails, try compassion
What is your reaction if your spouse yells at you, your child does or says something upsetting, your co-workers exclude you from after work events, or someone defames your character with gossip or lies? If you react within a normal range, you probably feel anger– fear, frustration, hurt, or unfairness. You might want to retaliate by hurting them in return or isolate … [Read more...]
We are called upon to share the spotlight
The priest told a more elaborate likeness of this story: “A man came to me quite distressed and told me his wife was crying and extremely upset with him. I asked him what happened this time. He said, “She asked if I knew her favorite color. I guessed blue but was wrong; purple was the correct answer. I’ve repeatedly told her I was sorry, but nothing helps.” When the man … [Read more...]
Park pain in the backseat
September is National Pain Awareness Month, so this is an excellent time to discuss the correlation between physical pain and mental health. All pain, including physical and emotional, is either chronic or acute. Acute pain is often caused by an injury where initial care and mild or prescription drugs offer relief, the pain subsides with time, and life again feels normal. … [Read more...]
Shared experiences are the best
I attended a concert at a new venue this week. It was a beautiful setting in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Immense rock walls framed the large meadow, and a river ran rapidly on the edge. There were food and drink vendors and hundreds of people in hats, flowing dresses, floral shirts, shorts, and sandals. I thought I walked into a mini Woodstock. The headliners did not … [Read more...]
Thankful I didn’t do another stupid thing all day
I went to a farmer’s market this week, and the cheese guy was there. I had no cheese left in my fridge, so I approached his tent. A woman was checking out, and he said, “That will be one, twelve. I thought, whoa. After she paid with a hundred dollar bill, ten and two ones, it was my turn. I asked what this and this and this was. He told me, and I said I’d take a slice of each, … [Read more...]
The opposite of narcissism is altruism
Here it is time for school to start. This week’s thoughts revolve around a topic relevant to kids and adults helping others or expecting others to meet our needs. The issue comes down to the difference between narcissism and altruism. Narcissism comes from the Greek myth, where an attractive man named Narcissus looked in a pool of water to see his reflection and fell in love … [Read more...]
What’s that about?
Is it retirement or just old age? I need more time and have too much time. The weeks fly by, and the days go on forever. What’s that about? I also have a great memory, but not regarding the name of an author, actor, song title, or person, even if we just met. What’s that about? A friend asked me this week, “What have you been doing?” Simple enough question, and even though … [Read more...]
Our stories endure if we pass them on
I neglected one of my favorite activities—writing rural women’s stories. Some women are excited to tell me one of their life stories; some say, “My life’s too boring to tell,” and one said, “No.” That friend has since passed, and her stories passed with her. Sad. You can think your life is boring or insignificant, but it’s not. Like any good novel, your story has heroes, … [Read more...]
Words, even if unspoken, hurt or heal
The New York Times Wordle word was CRONE the day I wrote this article. It took me five tries to figure it out, and since I didn’t know what it meant, I Googled it. The definition was short and not sweet: “An ugly old woman.” Ugh! There is no such thing as an ugly old woman. I’ve never seen one, have you? I’ve seen many older women—I see one every morning when I brush the … [Read more...]
Anxiety does not subside in the summer
We are in the peak of summer, and even though we look forward to sun, fun, gardens, and flowers, summer is not free of anxiety. We might think we have lazy days and s’mores by the campfire at night, but with pleasures comes less routine, often stress on our budgets and more planning and packing than usual. We are lucky to live in a farming and ranching area, but summer also … [Read more...]