https://confesstojesus.com/reflections/ Recent content in Reflections on Confess to Jesus Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Thu, 21 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2022/04/i-was-wrong-and-have-been-wasting-my-time/ Thu, 21 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2022/04/i-was-wrong-and-have-been-wasting-my-time/ For the past few years, I’ve tried to maintain a blog where I’d vent about my frustrations with the political climate in the US. I spent a lot of time doom scrolling political news for tidbits to use and write short posts lamenting how fractured our society has become because we’re all easily misled by powerful, wealthy forces. https://confesstojesus.com/2022/02/all-out-of-fcks-to-give/ Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2022/02/all-out-of-fcks-to-give/ The constant onslaught of bad news, COVID that just won’t go away, and an overall feeling of pessimism everywhere, my reservoir of empathy runs low. I’m exhausted. And you know what? I have power to change that. I don’t mean I can change the world and magically make all the bad that depresses me go away. https://confesstojesus.com/2022/01/why-cant-you-just-be-like-me/ Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2022/01/why-cant-you-just-be-like-me/ As a recovering alcoholic, it’s important to understand what I can and can’t control. One thing that keeps tripping me up over the years is people and how they think and act. “Why can’t they just…” is a common internal dialogue I wish I could forever squash. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/12/fuck-it-im-just-going-to-do-it-said-my-wife./ Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/12/fuck-it-im-just-going-to-do-it-said-my-wife./ Today my wife was puttering around in the guest room organizing her yarn and trying to clean up some stuff because her mother is staying with us for a bit after Christmas. We rarely have guests sleep over (rarely any guests at all) and this room is pretty cluttered with her project stuff (it’s all “stuff” to me, much like my stuff is “stuff” to her). https://confesstojesus.com/2021/12/the-mind-is-willing-and-the-body-is-not./ Sat, 04 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/12/the-mind-is-willing-and-the-body-is-not./ I’ve passed the initial age where stretching wrong as I get out of bed can result in a pulled shoulder blade muscle that makes deep breathing difficult, or turning around to look out the rear window while backing up the car can torque a muscle in the neck. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/11/my-future-self-would-like-a-nap-and-a-nice-cup-of-coffee-when-i-wake./ Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/11/my-future-self-would-like-a-nap-and-a-nice-cup-of-coffee-when-i-wake./ I don’t recall where I came across the phrase “give your future self a gift,” and it really doesn’t matter because that phrase stuck with me since. I’d like to truthfully admit I’m awesome to my future self, though that’d be a lie. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/11/i-once-called-my-mom-a-bitch-because-i-didnt-like-my-new-shoes./ Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/11/i-once-called-my-mom-a-bitch-because-i-didnt-like-my-new-shoes./ One morning when I was in the sixth grade or so, I was in the car with my mom as she dropped me off for school. I didn’t want to get out and go. Way too embarrassed. I looked at my mom with an angry face and said “I want to call you a bad name because you’re making me go to school with these stupid shoes. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/10/emotions-suck-sometimes/ Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/10/emotions-suck-sometimes/ I am thankful I have been able to experience different types of counseling and have received some benefits from each. I don’t recall from any session a counselor or psychiatrist who told me to “just be happy.” They know that’s not how the brain and emotions work. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/10/the-inner-oscar-the-grouch-ruins-dinner/ Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/10/the-inner-oscar-the-grouch-ruins-dinner/ I struggle with grouchiness. There. I said it. Now go away. That’s pretty much the extent of the grouchiness - just a desire to be left alone, don’t want to talk, I’m short with my words, and very cold to be around. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/10/its-difficult-to-commit-to-the-unfamiliar/ Fri, 08 Oct 2021 02:36:32 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/10/its-difficult-to-commit-to-the-unfamiliar/ Back in March of 2021, I decided to learn to skateboard. At 45. I can’t pinpoint any one reason why I picked skateboarding as something to try for a mid-life hobby. Its physical activity which is healthy for the mind and body? https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/this-one-small-trick-will-make-everything-better/ Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:50:01 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/this-one-small-trick-will-make-everything-better/ The title is a lie. There are no simple, quick fixes to better mental health. It’s exercise: it takes work and pays dividends when done consistently and well. Every time I try to take the easy way out, more often than not, I get burned. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/dont-touch-the-stove-or-youll-burn-yourself/ Mon, 20 Sep 2021 02:36:32 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/dont-touch-the-stove-or-youll-burn-yourself/ One day, as a little lad in the kitchen, my mother turned the stove on, and I watched the burner element heat up and turn this beautiful bright orange color. My mother, with her motherly instincts, seemed to know what I was thinking even before I did. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/i-once-cried-when-my-taco-shell-broke/ Tue, 14 Sep 2021 02:11:44 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/i-once-cried-when-my-taco-shell-broke/ Once, during dinner with my parents, when I was maybe four or so, we were having tacos and my taco shell broke. I remember crying about it. I was so distraught about my broken taco shell and the contents of it spilled out onto the plate like the guts of the eviscerated hero in a Roman colosseum battle (oh, my, what a dumb image I’m attributing to a child’s mind) that I didn’t want to eat any more. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/my-breakup-with-certain-types-of-news/ Sun, 12 Sep 2021 01:06:06 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/my-breakup-with-certain-types-of-news/ I get that it’s important to pay attention to current events, to read and watch the news and keep abreast of what’s happening in the world and community around me. During the 2016 election, however, I found too much of it negatively impacted my mood and mental well being. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/it-takes-effort-to-train-your-brain-to-think-positive.-damn./ Tue, 07 Sep 2021 02:36:25 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/it-takes-effort-to-train-your-brain-to-think-positive.-damn./ There’s some research that indicates we’re hardwired to default to negative thoughts . Which is neat, because I found that article when I was having negative thoughts about a work-related email that irritated me and so I started surfing the net, found it, read the headline, then proceeding to feed my negativity with more net surfing. https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/embrace-my-antsy-and-take-lots-of-breaks-from-the-news-for-better-mental-health/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 02:36:32 +0000 https://confesstojesus.com/2021/09/embrace-my-antsy-and-take-lots-of-breaks-from-the-news-for-better-mental-health/ I have some restless tendencies that include, among other things, impatience, anxiety, and a desire to jump from news article to news article and site to site in a downward spiral of doom scrolling . One of the unfortunate results of these behaviors is they feed each other and create an ever worsening feedback loop if left unchecked.