Here's A Thought

This week, I reflect on 13 moments when my decisions ranged from questionable to I'm-lucky-to-still-be-alive. As someone smart once told me, we all have our stupid side. It's smart to remember that.Opening Music by SergeQuadrado from PixabaySupport the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

If you, like me, grew up with the belief that being a good person means putting everyone else's needs, feelings, and preferences ahead of your own, the whole concept of self-care is a tricky one. But if we want to live honestly and responsibly, it's an idea we need to get straight.Support the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

With the holiday fast approaching, it's a good time to uncover the little-known history of the day we choose to honor Mom. There's more to it than you might think (including an effort by its founder to get the holiday abolished).Opening Music by SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In which we examine whether or not a beast out of legend has arrived in a local neighborhood. Tread carefully after dark, my friends . . .https://worldanimalfoundation.org/animal_encyclopedia/params/category/173341/item/993754/https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/explore?name=Vombatus+Americania&category=All&idapa=Allhttps://fanon.fandom.com/wiki/American_WombatOpening Music by geoffharvey from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In this episode, we return to the amazing (and often unsettling) world of AI — but this time, with a look at an exciting potential. What if ChatGPT — or one of its versions — can take some of the sting out of having to tell your romantic partner that it's time to call it quits?  Some people are already using AI to write their wedding vows; why not use it when  things just don't work out?I sense a real opportunity here . . .Sources:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/fashion/weddings/chatbot-wedding-vows-chatgpt-ai.htmlPaul SimonThere Must Be Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover (YouTube)https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/23/technology/clarkesworld-submissions-ai-sci-fi.html#:~:text=And%20now%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20it's,chatbots.https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/latest-version-of-chatgpt-aces-the-bar-exam-with-score-in-90th-percentilehttps://www.toastwiz.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisnoessel/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_sale:_baby_shoes,_never_wornIntro Music by Ivan_Velkov from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

This week, Here's A Thought takes a side trip into history — namely, the wild days of Gold Rush California, where some of the most renowned badasses were the people who drove stagecoaches along terrible roads in all kinds of weather, facing down bandits along the way. One of the very best of them was Charley Parkhurst — whose lifelong secret was only discovered after death.Some sources, and for further reading:"Overlooked No More: Charley Parkhurst, Gold Rush Legend With a Hidden Identity, New York Times, December 5, 2018"Charley Parkhurst, Tough Lady Stage Driver," Legends of America"Meet Charley Parkhurst, the Gold Rush's Fearless, Gender Nonconforming Stagecoach Driver" KQED, April 25, 2019Elk Grove Historical SocietyNew England Historical Society"Stagecoach Driver Charley Parkhurst Blazed Gender Non-Conforming Trails," California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, June 13, 2019The Legacy ProjectCharley Parkhurst, WikipediaDon Romesburg, Sonoma State UniversitySound Effect from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In which we examine five unfortunate phrases that we may find ourselves using when speaking to those in younger generations — and why we shouldn't, if we want to have a chance at being taken seriously. Or even just heard . . .Ohio Express, "Yummy Yummy Yummy (I Got Love in My Tummy)" 1968Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In which we consider the surprisingly common and weirdly persistent phenomenon of imposter syndrome: odds are you've experienced it too, at some point in your life. Don't fret: you're not alone — and maybe knowing that can help you stop seeing yourself as a fraud and start seeing yourself as fabulous.References:EM&Friends Card StudioImposter Syndrome Institutehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome#:~:text=Impostor%20syndrome%2C%20also%20known%20as,being%20exposed%20as%20a%20fraud.Sound Effect from PixabaySupport the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In which we contemplate what happens when AI goes so far beyond what we expect . . . that we don't even know what to expect. The thing is, we may already have reached that point. There's no bottle for this genie; let's hope it's benevolent.Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/12/opinion/chatbots-artificial-intelligence-future-weirdness.html?searchResultPosition=3https://www.alignmentforum.org/posts/CoZhXrhpQxpy9xw9y/where-i-agree-and-disagree-with-eliezerhttps://aiimpacts.org/2022-expert-survey-on-progress-in-ai/#Extinction_from_AIhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_alignmenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robothttps://webhome.auburn.edu/~vestmon/robotics.html#:~:text=A%20robot%20may%20not%20injure,the%20First%20or%20Second%20Law.Sound Effect from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

At some point in our lives, we all ask God or the Universe the same question.Here's a story that helped me understand the answer — even though that answer is another question.Sound Effect from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In which we consider why we keep up the absurd ritual of changing our clocks twice a year — and what it does to us, and how we got here in the first place.If you're feeling out of sorts this week, it's not your fault. And you're not alone.Article links: Here's a Horrifying Picture of What Sleep Deprivation Will Do To You," Huff Post, December 2017: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sleep-deprivation_n_4557142Sound Effect from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

We don't expect to get through our whole lives in perfect physical health, without ever having to see a doctor or a pharmacist or maybe even a personal trainer.Why do we have such trouble asking for support with our mental health? This week, I  talk about reaching a place where I realize it's time for me to walk my talk.Support the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

All dog stories should have happy endings. This one doesn't have the ending I'd hoped for — but maybe it will have an even better one. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In which we consider the tired phrases, overworked buzzwords, and meaningless jargon that clogs our language like the freshwater clams that clog our lakes. It's time for a cleanout, and thanks to the eagle-eyed folks at the Lake Superior State University School of Arts and Letters, we know just how to do it!That is, if we agree with their opinions . . . Here's the official 2023 list of the year's ten Banished Words (tongue firmly in cheek), with my thoughts on each selection. Absolutely an amazing inflection point, this year's list might actually be the GOAT — but it is what it is.Find Lake Superior State University's Banished Words list, along with past year archives and a link to nominate words for the 2024 list at https://www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords/Sound Effect by GregorQuendel_SoundDesign from PixabaySound Effect by FableCityRadio from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

We've all had this happen: somebody says something that they mean nicely . . . but that lands on us uncomfortably. For instance, I think I recently received my first "old lady" compliment. There is always only one way to respond. But there may be a lot to process.Support the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

We all run into people who we find to be overbearing, self-involved,  and who like to dominate every conversation.  But what if the domineering or difficult person in your life is truly a narcissist — not just somebody who's pushy or overconfident, but who may have a personality disorder? It's a topic that seems especially timely, and thanks to one of the show's listeners for suggesting it — and in this episode, we take a peek at what makes a narcissist a narcissist, and why it can be so challenging to deal with one.Important disclaimer! I'm not a psychologist, licensed counselor, or therapist. If you're in a situation or a relationship that you feel is destructive or you don't feel safe, get help.National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7223) or text START to 88788 National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: call 1-866-331-9474 or log into loveisrespect.org (interactive website)Sources for this episode:Believing Me: Healing From Narcissistic Abuse and Complex Trauma by Ingrid Clayton"Breaking Up With a Narcissist: How to Do It & What to Expect" by Perpetua Neo, DClinPsy   https://www.talkspace.com/mental-health/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/types/https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/signs-you-were-raised-by-narcissistshttps://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/14-signs-of-narcissismhttps://www.talkspace.com/mental-health/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/types/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9742-narcissistic-personality-disorderhttps://medium.com/practical-growth/safeguarding-yourself-from-narcissistic-rage-f93c64de2869https://reachoutrecovery.com/10-ways-narcissists-take-control/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-it-together/202111/who-is-most-vulnerable-narcissists#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20person%20who,share%20and%20how%20they%20differ.https://www.wellandgood.com/vulnerable-narcissist/https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/am-i-dating-a-narcissist#no-long-term-friendshttps://www.webmd.com/mental-health/narcissism-symptoms-signs#:~:text=Not%20every%20narcissist%20has%20Narcissistic,end%20of%20the%20narcissistic%20spectrum.https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/lists/five-signs-narcissism/Incidental Music for this episode by Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

This is the blogcast for people who overthink, hosted and produced by a veteran overthinker. And since overthinking is closely related to worry, we spend this week's episode delving into the overwhelming likelihood that, whatever you're worried about at the moment, it's not what you should be worried about. For example, asteroids on a collisions course with Earth . . .Source links:Don't Look Up, 2021 film: netflix.com/title/81252357https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-system-predicts-small-asteroid-to-pass-close-by-earth-this-weekhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/science/astronomy-asteroids-2023bu.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2023/01/26/1151667749/asteroid-coming-close-earth#:~:text=NASA%2FJPL%2DCaltech-,Asteroid%202023%20BU%20will%20streak%20about%202%2C200%20miles%20above%20the,moon's%20path%20is%20in%20gray.&text=There%20was%20no%20reason%20to,harmlessly%20Thursday%20night%2C%20NASA%20says.https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/scout/#/https://scienceandtechnology.jpl.nasa.gov/people/d_farnocchiahttps://www.npr.org/2022/09/26/1124340144/nasa-dart-shove-asteroid-first-test-planetary-defenseDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In this episode, I announce the publication of two of my real-life dog stories in the newest collection from Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned From My Dog — and how this came about, the dogs my stories memorialize, and why I have to bake 100 homemade dog cookies.Source links:https://www.chickensoup.com/https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Lessons-Friendship-ebook/dp/B0B3YQ4QNZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14AJJIS1YG5ZY&keywords=chicken+soup+for+the+soul+lessons+learned+from+my+dog&qid=1674492029&sprefix=chicken+soup+for+the+soul+lessons+learned+from+my+dog%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1https://www.americanhumane.org/https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-mattershttps://www.rdbooks.org/Support the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

In this week's episode of Here's A Thought, we consider the remarks of a freshman member of  Idaho's House of Representatives — who, in introducing himself to the Agriculture Affairs committee, really stepped in a big stinking cow pie. Do you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorSources: https://www.newsweek.com/idaho-republican-representative-apologizes-womens-health-farm-animals-1773507https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/idaho-lawmaker-deeply-sorry-for-comment-comparing-cows-and-womens-health/article_257b37b0-92ff-11ed-9406-5fabfc0409a7.htmlhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/watch-rep-jack-nelson-of-idaho-compares-women-to-cows/vi-AA16isg8?li=BBnb7Kzhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11633355/Idaho-legislator-sparks-fury-comparing-women-COWS-female-healthcare-discussion.htmlhttps://twitter.com/IdahoDems/status/1613582343775883264https://www.postregister.com/news/government/idaho-lawmaker-deeply-sorry-for-comment-comparing-cows-and-womens-health/article_d2109744-902f-5964-abdf-190fc06cc810.htmlhttps://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/05/idaho-supreme-court-abortion-ban-00076704#:~:text=of%20the%20mother.%E2%80%9D-,Under%20the%20Idaho%20ruling%2C%20abortion%20will%20remain%20prohibited%20in%20most,cases%20of%20rape%20and%20incest.https://blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2022/11/10/vote-count-reporting-error-shows-mistaken-result-for-district-26-house-seat-b/https://www.healthline.com/health/breastfeeding/breast-milk-cheese#is-this-really-a-thinghttps://www.npr.org/2021/05/01/992761507Support the showDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music

When something comes along that rattles your foundations and makes you question your place in the scheme of things — it's not a comfortable place to be. In this episode, we check out the perspective — humbling, yet comforting — offered by a long-ago bed of marigolds. Why make life harder than it has to be? Do you have an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorQuote by Stephen King in On WritingQuote from Neil Gaiman in MasterclassTheme music courtesy of Pixabay MusicAdditional music by Musictown from PixabaySound Effect from PixabayDo you have comments to share or an idea for an upcoming episode? Need something overthought? I'd love to hear from you!Email me at HeresAThought8@gmail.comOr, contact me on my website at www.JanMFlynn.netOr, DM me on Twitter: @JanMFlynnAuthorTheme music courtesy of Pixabay Music