My favorite TV show is CBS Sunday Morning. The show tells stories about things I’ve never thought or heard about, or they add insight to what I already know. The show holds my full attention for one and one-half hours. This past Sunday, the show included an interview with Dan Lyons, author of “The Power of Keeping your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World.” He wrote about … [Read more...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
Put time between thoughts and actions
As I write this, the clock has sprung forward, most snow has melted, and Lucy behaved like an angel baby on a long road trip. Before you know it, we will see bright-colored flowers popping up in our yards. Spring—glorious spring! Mixing with the good, great, and grand of spring is something most of us do not enjoy—the wind. Maybe this year, our heavy snowfall will keep the … [Read more...]
May the devil leave you alone
Ernest Hemingway said, “I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?” I love sleep too, and last night I got a tiny amount. Lucy first needed to go outside at 2:00, ending my peace on the pillow. She went back to sleep, and I didn’t. My vast sleep wisdom failed: 2:00, 2:07, 2:28, 2:31, and 2:39, until I finally got up at 3:25, fixed coffee, … [Read more...]
Keep walking toward your best self
Jennifer Goble Complaints about the snow, ice, wind, dirty cars, shoveling, stocking caps, etc., are ordinary conversations. I want to go anywhere green—where I can take my puppy Lucy, outside without wearing a coat, scarf, and mittens. I see photos on Facebook where someone is basking in Costa Rica, Florida, or Arizona sun, and I feel a twinge of jealousy—an awful feeling … [Read more...]
Death plans must not be a secret
I so appreciate still being alive—it seems everyday pieces of life’s puzzle come together and start to make sense—death, to name one. A friend was given a healthy report at her December 28th physical exam, and on the day of this writing, 2-20-23, less than two months later, she has stage four cancer and in-home health, palliative, and hospice care. She chose not to have … [Read more...]
Practice the power of you
We celebrated President’s Day on Monday, but today, February 22nd, is the actual birthday of George Washington. He was born in 1732, and on the same day, two hundred years later, Ted Kennedy was born. Also, on this day in 1848, John Quincy Adams, our sixth president, died at 80. Today is also Ash Wednesday, plus a designated holiday for walking a dog, cooking sweet potatoes, … [Read more...]
The image in your mirror
I hope Valentine’s Day satisfied your expectations. It could have increased your gratitude list and added an ah-ha or aww moment. Whichever, I hope this February 15th finds you shaking off disappointments and embracing whatever love floated your way. Valentine’s Day is in the rearview mirror, and now is a reasonable time to bring up the topic of appreciation—specifically, … [Read more...]
Have a far-out, tuned-in, super fantastic day!
Giddy with l’amour, or do you dread Valentine’s Day? Either way, it is nearly here. Red and pink hearts, roses, and chocolates are beacons, pulsating with messages like, “Don’t forget!” “You better hurry!” “Oh, I wish . . . !” The good news, you still have six days to find your sweetheart the perfect Valentine. There are plenty of great buying opportunities in Logan County. … [Read more...]
Having a broken body hurts
When we were younger, we could fall and get up. Maybe we skinned our knees or damaged our pride, but now we fall and break. My world seems inundated with falls and breaks: I broke my wrist in July, my sister fell twice and cracked her head, and a friend fell and broke her leg while dislocating two knee replacements. Another friend fell, landed in a bush, and lay there for at … [Read more...]
Happiness involves people and effort
We say to people we greet, “Happy New Year,” “Happy Thanksgiving,” “Happy Easter,” “Happy Valentine’s,” and “Happy Wednesday.” When we say “Happy ________,” even though we put little thought into the statement, we are wishing them happiness. What is happiness, where does it come from, and how do we get it and keep it? Happiness was the topic of several TV shows after … [Read more...]
I want to talk politics today
I hope you are okay with my weekly reflections, observations, and reveries. I try to keep my thoughts on mental health, but my mind often wanders and ends up in a philosophical orbit around life and living. Please know I appreciate our conversations each week. Lucy listens with excellent eye contact and cocks her little head back and forth as I chatter, but its’ not the same as … [Read more...]
Who’s inspired you?
Someone asked the other day, “Who’s inspired you?” It was an easy question but hard to answer. Initially, my brain returned empty—it seemed my mind swam in a sea of bubbles. On my second lap, I recalled too many people to list. The question has stayed on my mind, and it uplifts me to think about all the people who, through words and examples, have influenced how I move through … [Read more...]
Three little words could add up to Happy New Year!
As we begin 2023, I am motivated to remember three words: Failure, fun, and fear. Three different presenters used them. Embracing failure was a central theme of the speaker at my granddaughter’s graduation ceremony at Colorado State University. The engineer encouraged everyday failure, emphasizing how it leads to innovations and inventions—failure is the root of … [Read more...]
New Year’s is a universal occasion for change
Jennifer Goble Deepak Chopra, on CNN, said, “We spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.” Welcome to the week after Christmas. Our credit cards are likely bulging, and our bank accounts are starving. New Year’s Resolutions come to the rescue; commitments to improve our lives. We might want to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise, show … [Read more...]
Never be afraid to say, ‘I need some help’
Jennifer Goble Thanksgiving to the end of the year is a fun time for many people–family gatherings, social happenings, and wonderment. But for many, it isn’t easy. Any factors could be the culprit for holiday blues: financial pressure, commitments, unrealistic expectations, fatigue, stress, over-commercialization, and inability to be with one’s family and friends. Any or all of … [Read more...]