I’ve had a great week—My first granddaughter, Ireland, married her best friend, Noah, at a beautiful outside Rocky Mountain wedding, and Lucy is back from training. These events are not comparable or equal, but they were both eventful. The soggy Fourth of July, with canceled fireworks, put a damper on the week, but the stellar still outweighed the disappointing–standard for … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Tears are friends
Since Lucy was in training, I took advantage of my freedom and signed on for a tour with people I had never met to an area I had never visited. I had a great time, met friendly people, and laughed often. On the flight home, I was stuck in the middle, like always, and tried shrinking into my seat so the shoulders, elbows, and man sprawl on both sides of me didn’t make … [Read more...]
Celebrate our Red, White, and Blue
Author’s Note: I’m traveling this week and using an (edited) article written seven years ago. I hope it still feels relevant. I enjoy all holidays, but Independence Day, July Fourth, is especially significant. Not only are gifts not expected, and the food is plentiful, but it reminds me of my freedom and how it isn’t free—the cost is immense. We are the luckiest people in … [Read more...]
Lucy’s in training
Lucy’s in training—I won’t see her for three weeks. I feel like a basketball player without a basketball. I’m guessing she is wondering, what the heck? For ten months, she has been the center of my schedule and the reason I greet mornings with the sunrise. But, she needs to stop, come, and heel so we can live in harmony and she doesn’t run off to get hit or lost. She is no … [Read more...]
What makes your heart sing sweeter?
Jennifer Goble (Courtesy photo) Browsing around a thrift store, one of my favorite activities, a small bluebird caught my eye. It was a little ugly but made out of cast iron and had a price tag of only one dollar. I knew it was mine. At the house, I sat her on the railing opposite my other cast-iron bird. How proud I was of my great find. But her shabby baby blue paint job made … [Read more...]
People help you, and you help them right back
Graduation ceremonies are close to the top of my enjoyment list. Maybe because I’ve been there, but it is good for my heart to see teachers, staff, students, and parents work together to organize the gymnasium and ceremony, the speeches, slide show, music, awards, and presentation of diplomas. Impressive. Watching friends and family support and cheer for their graduating … [Read more...]
Life comes in waves
I hope Memorial Day was pleasant for you and your families. Like Veteran’s Day and the Fourth of July, I also hope you joined me in feeling respect and gratitude when seeing each red, white, and blue flag gloriously fluttering in the sky. We are the recipients—the lucky—the freedom holders. God Bless America. I’m writing this after the state track meet, my granddaughter’s … [Read more...]
Be aware of toxic people
On a Netflix movie, “Tuscana,” a tombstone quote read: “As Extraordinary as Everybody Else.” I liked it because it spoke to equality instead of superiority or disadvantage. Close to the same time, I listened to an audiobook, “The Highly Sensitive Person’s (HSP) Guide to Dealing with Toxic People.” The connection between the two might seem strange. Still, the book details … [Read more...]
We are the writers of our character
As an author, I often browse blogs and podcasts about publishers, editors, and agents. One publisher said she was looking for non-fiction (which is what I write) containing authority, authenticity, and empathy. Editors look for accuracy in form and content. Agents look for social media exposure, a wow factor, and previous success. A Chopra meditation on self-acceptance … [Read more...]
We are the thinkers of our thoughts
I find myself saying, “It’s such a different world.” I walk around half stunned half of the time because it IS such a different world. Many factors enter into that statement, but today my focus is on the new norm of over-indulging. As a kid, I babysat for a family with a giant crystal Lazy Susan loaded with chocolate bridge mix. Besides a few cream drops in my Christmas … [Read more...]
Laugh; it’s a no-brainer
Thinking about the value of laughter is far overdue. I’ve always laughed easily, but the older I get, the more critical laughter becomes. Humor and laughter truly set humans apart from animals. I don’t notice Lucy laughing as I do, but she does wriggle and squirm like an escape artist and wags her tail so fast she could take off like a helicopter. Maybe that is her form of … [Read more...]
“What’ll I do?” is all in the upset of grief
Saturday will be two years since my husband died, giving me a good reason to provide you with a grieving update. To summarize, I’m less distressed, but I’m still not through. Being trained in the stages of loss: Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression, and Release has helped me track my progress but has not necessarily speeded up recovery. This week, a song by Irving Berlin, … [Read more...]
Think higher, sleep deeper, and smile broader
Volunteerism contributes free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization, and April is volunteer appreciation month. An estimated 60.7 million Americans formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021, working 4.1 billion hours and contributing an economic value of $122.9 billion. Impressive. People around us give time … [Read more...]
Patience is necessary for every life—every day
Lucky for Lucy and me, I learned patience early in life. I was the little sister with no seniority or clout, so I learned to wait and wait and wait. I’m the fourth of five girls, so patience was woven into my upbringing. Last week I wrote about frustration, and this week offered more of the same, but I focused on the value and need for patience. My exasperation started with … [Read more...]
Feel frustrated and then rise above
My problems don’t involve a lack of a home, food, water, or healthcare, but that doesn’t keep me from wishing for Santa or the Easter Bunny. Average life makes this growing-up stuff more complex than my parents admitted or modeled. It’s called frustration. Webster defines it as a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems … [Read more...]