by Luke Schmaltz | Apr 23, 2021 | Travel
By Luke Schmaltz
At this time last year, if you were to offer someone a set of guidelines for maintaining mental stability, you’d probably get a well-deserved smack in the mouth.
Now that circumstances are settling into a cautious clip toward not crazy, some folks are hoping to reclaim their sense of sanity.
There are simple steps you can take to stop the negative internal chatter, calm your mind and exact some mental clarity so that you can enjoy yourself when you get a chance. Also, an approach with reasonable expectations may be better than a strict regimen for the simple fact that you shouldn’t be stressed out about trying to relieve mental stress. Here are a few strategies to consider based on simplicity of the activity, scientific research, and quantifiable results.
Move Yourself
In May of 2019, research fellow Karmel Choi, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, published a study on the causal connection between physical activity and depression. The study used Mendelian randomization to assess the genetic data of hundreds of thousands of people from two large databases. The finding offered measurable proof that movement does indeed protect against depression more so than the notion that depression makes you move less. Movement means just that; not fancy exercise, (although that won’t hurt) just the simple act of getting up off the couch and going for a walk, mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, dusting off the blinds and yeah — maybe a few jumping jacks.
Reach Out
A 2014 report issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH) presented research on the effects of loneliness on psychiatric disorders and physical health. The study defined loneliness not as a condition caused by being alone, but rather by being “without some definite needed relationship or set of relationships.” The evidence presented links loneliness to a litany of mental conditions including depression, Alzheimer’s, and alcoholism, as well as physical maladies such as low-grade peripheral inflammation which can lead to a host of other serious conditions. The simple act of speaking regularly with friends and family with whom you have a genuine connection can assuage loneliness. Community and religious leaders can also lend a caring ear, while volunteering with charity organizations or adopting a pet can be workable options as well. Plus there are free support outlets such as The Lonely Hour Podcast, the Daily Strength networking service, the National Suicide Prevention Line and many more.
Log Off
Loneliness has a major impact on mental health.
Most people, regardless of age, can grasp the fact that scrolling through your Twitter feed for hours on end is not the equivalent of reading, does not replace human interaction and does not stimulate critical thinking. Regardless, according to statistica.com, the average person worldwide spent 145 minutes a day on social media in both 2019 and 2020. A recent study by Cureus, which was published by the National Institutes of Health, presented evidence gleaned from 28 scholarly articles on the effect of social media on mental health. Anxiety and depression were found to be the most com-
mon disorders linked to habitual social media use, and that these conditions were heightened in females and passive users who only read and do not post. Thankfully, you have many modern decades of human behavior to fall back on when deciding how to better spend your time. For starters, try points one and two above, then you can listen to a podcast, try a new recipe, read a book, write a book, go to a museum, or take a swim. The possibilities are more endless than your daily Facebook news feed.
Be Generous
It is mentally healthy to be generous.
Just about everyone has heard the old saying, “It’s better to give than to receive.” If there was ever any gravitas to the notion that cliches exist for a reason, this one sets the gold standard. In 2013, the American Public Health Association published a study with the NIH which tested the hypothesis that “providing help to others predicts a reduced association between stress and mortality.” Plainly put, being generous toward others helps you relax and live longer. The study followed subjects over a period of five years and measured stressful events in tandem with giving behavior and death rates. The results showed that stress had no bearing on heart rates of those who were giving to others, yet those exhibiting non-giving behavior had a far more predictable rate of mortality in relation to stressful events. Giving behavior does not mean you have to hand out 10 dollar bills to everyone you meet. On the contrary, most folks would rather have something intangible but far more valuable such as your time, your care, your ear, your attention, or your love.
Call A Truce
Solvent relationships are key to mental health.
In this combative, divisive, and litigious day and age, it seems that folks are predisposed to argue at the drop of a hat and be at odds with one another just for the sake of creating conflict. Perhaps one of the greatest things you can do for your mental wellbeing is to relieve yourself of the burden of always having to be right. Debating important issues and standing up for yourself are, of course, pursuits to be valued. Yet, the law of diminishing returns comes into effect when people actively cultivate conflict, exhibit hostility and seek out arguments — especially with their partners. A 2018 study by the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University found that couples who argue frequently are prone to leaky gut, which can lead to all sorts of health problems. Further, a 2020 study published by Oxford Academic on depression and family arguments presented evidence that “ … family arguments put depressed men and women at risk for more severe depressive symptoms.” Since it takes two to tangle, when someone wants to argue about something that truly doesn’t matter, you can agree to disagree, take the high road and relent, or simply disengage and walk away.
by Mark Smiley | Apr 23, 2021 | Main Articles
Criminal And Civil Failure To Report Gifts Added To Sexual Assault And Harassment Claims
by Glen Richardson
Worries Mount: Denver School Board Director Tay Anderson’s legal problems are growing. Two progressive organizations he has been a part of (Black Lives Matter 5280 and Never Again, Colorado) have accused him of either sexual assaulting or sexually harassing female members. Now the nonpartisan Campaign Integrity Watchdog has filed civil and criminal complaints concerning tens of thousands of gifts he has alleged to have solicited.
Tay Anderson, the highly controversial 22-year-old Denver School Board member’s legal problems are escalating at a dizzying pace. He is now facing new criminal misdemeanor allegations relating to his failure to file required reports on his repeated solicitation for gifts related to myriad events including claimed medical expenses, a trip to Washington, D.C., and a baby gift registry.
Sex Assault And Harassment
He was previously accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed woman by Black Lives Matter 5280 (“BLM”) which he denied and claimed he needed more information. BLM demanded that Anderson issue a public apology and seek assistance from a licensed professional with relevant expertise before he was welcomed at the group’s meetings or events. The group later stated that more women had come forward.
Anderson then acknowledged a May 2018 Denver Public Schools investigation found that he had engaged in retaliation while advocating on behalf of former Manual High School Principal Nick Dawkins, whom the district had investigated following employee complaints of harassment and bias.
The six female members of a gun reform organization, Never Again Colorado, which Anderson served as president in 2018, issued a statement that Anderson created a hostile work environment making them feel unsafe by, inter alia, “talking in code about female board members in front of them (with romantic/sexual subtexts), daring female board members to perform sexualized actions, having conversations comparing the attractiveness of female board members, and making lewd comments in private to female board members.” The women were underage at the time of the incidents.
This time Anderson apologized and stated he would now “plan to engage and consult with restorative and transformative justice professionals.”
Anderson declared that he welcomed any investigation of his conduct. On April 6, 2021, he got his wish when the Denver Public Schools Board of Directors announced that it had secured an agreement with the Investigative Law Group to investigate the claims of women that he had assaulted and harassed them.
Anderson alienated many of his white female supporters in Central Park (formerly Stapleton) and elsewhere when he tweeted out “My brother really picked out a white woman with pumpkin pie over me for thanksgiving. This is another level of hurt.” The outrage over the implied racism caused him to delete the tweet.
Cornucopia Of Gifts For Anderson
Campaign Integrity Watchdog, LLC, a non-partisan organization dedicated to campaign integrity and transparency of public officials filed an Economic Crime Complaint with the Denver District Attorney’s Office alleging criminal misdemeanors by Anderson for failure to report numerous fundraising solicitation schemes including:
- Anderson claimed unspecified medical expenses alleging that on July 29, 2020, he “was a victim of assault by the Denver Police Department while standing in support of people experiencing homelessness” and hit his head. His campaign manager created a Go Fund Me page in which he received over $13,000 in gifts. He was required to report all gifts above $65 but failed to do so according to the Complaint.
- Anderson personally created a Go Fund Me page on September 19, 2020, to pay for his and others trip to Washington, D.C., for the funeral of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and raised almost $13,000 and the Complaint indicates he again failed to report the same.
Gifts Galore: Campaign Integrity Watchdog has filed civil and criminal complaints against Tay Anderson for his failure to disclose tens of thousands of dollars of unreported gifts.
It also appears that Anderson began soliciting gifts in late 2020, of up to $1,000 on the Target website for a child he was expecting. There appear to be only 11 gifts he registered for that have not been purchased for him at press time. Anderson has had an interesting relationship with Target. He had tweeted that he and family members had been racially harassed at an unspecified Target location. Then on November 30, 2020, he tweeted that he had collapsed from severe chest pains while shopping with his family at Target. His failure to report the Target Baby Registry gifts would appear to potentially violate C.R.S. Sec. 24-6-203.
Anderson would not be subject to jail time under the statute but could be punished by a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation and the Complaint alleges multiple violations. Campaign Integrity Watchdog also filed a Complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State alleging campaign and political finance violations of C.R.S. Sec. 24-6-203, based on the same set of facts. The Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, could impose her own fines under Colorado law.
Campaign Integrity Watchdog officer, Matt Arnold, stated that “public officials who deliberately evade the legal disclosure requirements for financial activity betray the public trust. Elected officials — and those seeking to obtain or retain elected office — cannot be above the law. Such ‘official’ violators must be held accountable to the law, so that ‘some animals — are not more equal than others’.”
Controversial Glendale Meeting
Tay Anderson became well known to Glendale residents when in July of last year, he appeared at a City Council meeting with State Representative Emily Sirota to protest Glendale agreeing with Governor Polis on masks while opting out of Tri-County Health Department’s requirements. He managed to alienate many at the meeting by verbally mocking and denigrating anyone who spoke with a position contrary to his own.
Anderson did not respond to requests for comment on the latest charges against him.
by Glendale Sports Center | Apr 23, 2021 | Feature Story Bottom Left
by Claudia Morlan, YMCA of Metro Denver
Senior Director of Communications
“The reason I became a lifeguard is water safety,” said Bryan Castellano Pineda, a part-time lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA of Metro Denver. Pineda reflects on a near drowning his brother experienced when they were kids, and he recalls “I want to prevent things like this from happening.”
May is National Water Safety Month and as we approach Memorial Day and the start of summer fun, safety in and around the water should be on the list of basic life skills to keep children healthy.
Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years old. The problem is particularly acute among minority communities. For example, African American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than their white counterparts. Additionally, 79 percent of children in families with household income less than $50,000 have no/low swimming ability.
During summertime and year-round, the YMCA offers these water safety tips and resources:
Be aware. When swimming, parents are urged to get in the water with their young children and stay within arm’s reach. Children who are old enough to swim on their own should be actively watched and should swim only when and where a lifeguard is on duty. Parents can also have their children “tested” by the lifeguard to ensure they have basic swimming skills and can swim strong independently.
Review and follow pool rules. Children should understand and follow pool rules and lifeguard orders. In addition, they should know their abilities and limits and be taught not to take chances with going in too deep or playing breath-holding games.
Take swim lessons. Research shows that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children 1 to 4 years of age. Swim lessons teach participants how to tread water, move in the water, and do basic strokes, building skills and confidence that can be the difference between life and death. The YMCA offers swim lessons at outdoor community pools across the metro area and at our University Hills, Littleton, Southwest and Arvada YMCAs.
If children know how to stay safe in and around water, swimming can be a lifelong source of fun and exercise. Don’t keep your children away from water but help them learn fundamental water safety skills. Classes can provide a new, exciting way to keep active and meet new friends.
Learn about the YMCA’s Aquatics Program at www.denverymca.org.
by Valley Gadfly | Apr 23, 2021 | Valley Gadfly
It’s May, the month of “yes you may.” As Lerner and Loewe described it in Camelot: “That darling month when ev’ryone throws self-control away. It’s time to do a wretched thing or two, and try to make every precious day one you’ll always rue!” Special days are Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and on the last Monday, Memorial Day.
Historically, the gentle warmth of the month causes flowers to blossom, crops to sprout and people to dance. The month’s May-time merriment remains to this day.
To help you stay young and happy, here are our choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to chase the bees away and pluck flowers in the merry month of May:
3 Celebrate Historic Denver’s birthday Looking Forward, Looking Back at the Molly Brown House May 1-Sept. 19. Exhibit reveals how home was saved, view Brown’s residence for first time. Information: 303-832-4092.
3 Buy produce, products, and food on Colorado Fresh Market’s farmers market in Cherry Creek’s first day at 1st. & University May 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Information: 303-442-1847.
3 Help American Lung Assn. at Coors Field Flight For Air Climb fundraiser May 8, 8 a.m. Climb at pace of your choice. Information: 303-847-0280.
3 Enjoy creative stations, stage shows at indoor FamilyFest in the National Western Complex May 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.. Information: 303-400-3470.
3 Treat mom to Mother’s Day brunch to 3 p.m. or dinner at Cherry Creek’s Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood. Full menu includes Chilean Seabass, Swordfish “Paella,” and Filet Mignon. Information: 303-333-2462.
3 Have a hitch in your giddy-up? Hook-up with The Hitch Corner at 1900 S. Quince. They sell-install trailer hitches, also heavy-duty towing experts, especially 5th Wheel & Gooseneck Hitches. Information: 720-277-7782.
3 Catch blues band the Delta Sonics playing Dazzle@Baur’s May 15, 9 p.m. Swing, R&B & Rock n’ Roll also on play list. Information: 303-839-5100.
3 View Colorado Women’s Caucus for Art’s 30th birthday exhibition at D’art Gallery on Santa Fe through May 30. Information: 720-486-7735.
3 Now two nights only, Cleo Parker Robinson’s 50th Anniversary Spring Show titled Come Passion, is May 8-9, 7 p.m. Created by Robinson to celebrate where they’ve come from, the 12-member Ensemble will be dancing new and previously performed works. The hybrid performance with limited theater seating features dance and film blending live-streamed and recorded performances. Information: cleoparker dance.org.
The Anglo Saxon word for May was Tri-Milchi, meaning the grass had become so lush and green that you could milk the cows three times a day. Denver’s average temperature in May is between 67 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to a low of between 42 and 46 °F. Nearly every day warms to over 50 °F in Denver. May’s weather is also the rainiest-cloudiest of the year in Denver. Nonetheless, in our dry climate only one in three days during the month normally gets any precipitation.
Virgin shy, fresh and gentle, May is spiritual, beautiful, green and lusty warm. A fun month, we devote May 5th to eating tacos and drinking margaritas on Cinco de Mayo. Every “May-stro” from Johannes Brahms to country artist Cam have set texts about May to music. “It’s mad, it’s gay, a libelous display,” the rousing month of May.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
