mental-health – Dave Glardon

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a great start, and building toward an awesome weekend! Now, let’s dive into a topic most of us tend to avoid because, on the surface, it smells a little like politics. Rest assured, this is not political. That’s not my style. But I do think we need to consider the effect 24-hour news can have on our emotional and spiritual health.

With all that’s transpired over the past several months, especially these past few days and weeks, it’s hard not to become obsessed with the news. I know people, including my own daughter, who intentionally avoid current events, just to preserve their own sanity. I get it. News can be disheartening, if not downright infuriating. And who wants to watch this stuff all day?

But let’s be real. We should all try to maintain at least a basic awareness of what’s going on around us. I’ve mentioned hurricanes that are threatening my daughter’s home, and more than once she’s asked, “What are you talking about?” Avoiding news is one thing, but we can’t just live in a media vacuum, especially when there are things we need to know to protect ourselves. Agreed?

I try to take a more measured approach. I catch up on the news once a day, maybe more if there’s a developing story. Right now, in my hometown of Tucson, an elderly woman is missing from her home in a story that’s captured global news. I pray for a happy outcome, though I do check the news from time to time to see if there have been any updates.

That said, media obsession is becoming an alarmingly potent force in our society, and I’ve seen a lot of friends fall into that abyss. News, especially politics, can completely consume our thoughts to the point that nothing else can creep in. And when we take those thoughts to work, or church, or social media, or family dinners, we find ourselves embracing the abyss instead of trying to climb back out.

It’s impossible to see anything and not have an opinion on it. That’s your brain processing input and applying your own personal values to it. But let me ask a question. When was the last time you got anybody on social media to change their mind about anything? Or live and in-person, either? I don’t have enough old calendars to go back that far. Do you? If so, we need to talk.

When we obsess over the news and our opinions about it, the only people who pay attention are others who also obsess over the news and already think like we do or are firmly on the other side. We can point out hypocrisy, pass judgment, or call people names. It may make us feel better for the moment, but it does nothing to advance our cause. In fact, most times it has the opposite effect.

By all means, be aware of the world around you. That’s healthy. Discuss your concerns with people who care and may be able to help shape your perspective. Then back away. Find something else to occupy your mind, something that stimulates your mind and body. Play with the kids. Sit on the porch. Take the dog for a walk. Or binge your favorite TV show. Anything to reclaim your mind.

Tune in long enough to see if anything warrants your immediate attention and then zone out. The news will continue just fine without you. Trust me. If you want to take an active role in shaping the news, get involved. Write or call your elected representatives. Draw up a poster and participate in peaceful protest. Record events from a distance that’s safe for you and everyone else.

Then hang up the phone, go home, and do something that restores your mind, body, and soul. Focusing our entire being on things we can’t change won’t fix anything. There’s more to life – enjoy it. And always remember the Serenity Prayer – “God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom always to know the difference.”

This is my prayer for each you, my friends – today and every day. Please share your thoughts in the comments. I’d really like to hear from you. Meanwhile, have a safe and happy Friday, and an even better weekend!

Good morning, and happy Monday! I hope your day is off to a nice start.

To say 2023 has been a challenge is an understatement. Of course, we say that every year as if it’s something new and insightful. But it’s true. No matter how hard we try to make things better, life has a way of throwing a wrench in the spokes. And the faster you’re going, the harder the fall. It’s physics. Blame Sir Isaac Newton. He’s dead, anyway.

It’s been six months since my stroke, and two things are obvious. First, I’m not as young as I used to be. Second, I’m still kicking. I need to remind myself of that every day. Sure, my body has seen finer days. Along with my youth, I’ve said farewell to my upper-body strength, my ability to follow a conversation, and that unruffled demeanor I embodied my whole life. Okay, and my memory, too.

I never really felt my age until this year. Sure, I’ve seen the changes in the mirror. Funny, I don’t notice all that gray hair until I go to the barber. I used to wish they had clippers that just cut out the gray and leave the rest, but if they did, I’d come away looking like Vin Diesel. That would be okay if I had his physique to go with it. Let’s face it, my biceps are turning gray, too.

Another thing about getting old – every time doctors test for one thing, they find something else. I’m still not sure how a brain scan showed testosterone deficiency, but they managed to find a way. Okay, the doc calls it an enlarged aorta. In other words, my heart is ticking in more ways than one. And I’m not allowed to lift more than 30 pounds, ever. Not that I could before, but still.

Yet through it all, though, one fact remains – I’m still breathing. I still have the ability to get out of bed every morning, however slowly. I still work, though I don’t always remember what I did yesterday. And I just drove 1800 miles in two days, mostly because I kept getting lost. You’re welcome, Exxon.

So, I’m not as nimble as I used to be. Who cares? I’m still alive, and with each new day comes a new opportunity to try something different. Sure, the results will be mixed. But that adds a level of excitement. Like stepping into the bull ring and finding out how fast you can run. I already know the answer to that. I couldn’t outrun a gerbil with a five-second head start.

We only have a certain amount of time left on this planet. How we spend that time is a choice we make. I may not be able to climb a mountain, but that doesn’t mean I can’t stand at the bottom and appreciate its beauty. Or just turn a bull loose and maybe I can climb better than I think. You never know.

As long as we’re breathing, we’re not done. And everything is possible until we prove otherwise. Challenge yourself. Instead of accepting a self-imposed set of limitations, stretch those limits. Change your mindset and you can change your life. It’s easy. Just get up each morning (however slowly), stand in front of a mirror, and repeat after me … “You ain’t dead yet!”

That’s all for now, folks. Thumb your nose at whatever is standing in your way, then tell me all about it. Let’s face this beast together. Meanwhile, have an awesome day!

Tag: mental-health

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