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...]
Newspaper Column, "Mental Matters" published each Wednesday in the South Platte Sentinel Health Section
“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...]
Biting your tongue can be valuable
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...]
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...]