While reminiscing, I found my first South Platte Sentinel article, published on December 17th, 2010. Following is my edited, hopefully still-relevant message from fifteen years ago. 

Retired from 20+ years of mental health counseling this past June, and missing being involved in the mental health profession, I am now trying to create a setting where I can continue to help, but in a more diverse and broad format: a newspaper column.

I wondered how I would come up with relevant topics, whether anyone would be interested, and how I would know if they weren’t. Then I shifted my thoughts. I spoke words to myself that I would have shared with a client: “Just do it and see. The worst thing that can happen is it’s a flop, and you can handle a flop. The sun will continue to rise in the morning.”

So here I am with a head full of ideas, knowledge of how our minds work, many life experiences, and more education than anyone needs. May my creativity emerge and assist me in writing what may be helpful to you, the reader.

We are a little over two weeks away from the big day, Christmas. We want to taste warm apple cider, feel the strong hugs from family and friends, watch snow gently fall on the glowing holiday lights, smell the burning fire, sing carols, and bubble over with excitement as we anticipate the perfect gift from our special person, showing that they really care. That is what we want, plan for, work toward, and expect. Is it any wonder that the day comes and goes, leaving us with feelings of exhaustion and relief that it’s finally over?

We are responsible for our own feelings and actions, and we set ourselves up for failure during the holidays. We expect too much. We build a Norman Rockwell picture in our mind and then allow ourselves to be sad, mad, or hurt when reality and dreams collide. My best advice is to expect nothing, but enjoy everything. The culprit is expectations. We expect things that are not only improbable, but next to impossible. We try to be everything for everyone, and, if we're not, we dump unpleasant blame on ourselves and others. What happened to Norman Rockwell?

Try it. Expect nothing! Show up with a good attitude, and see what happens. You could be surprised. Enjoy everything! Joy, peace, excitement, etc., are nearly impossible to plan. So expect nothing and enjoy everything that comes your way!

Also, don’t forget yourself. Buy a gift you’ve been wanting and put it under the tree. That way, you receive the perfect gift from your most special person, showing that they really care.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

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