Last week was a blur. On Wednesday, I did a break-out session for the Montana Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect conference in Helena. I’ve been to this conference multiple times and always deeply appreciate the amazing people in Montana and beyond who are dedicated to the mission of preventing child abuse and neglect. For the break-out, I presented on “Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Mental Health, Suicide, and Happiness.” This is one of my favorite newish topics and I felt very engaged with the 120+ participants. A big thanks to them.
Before the session, I felt a bit physically “off.” Overnight, the “off” symptoms developed into a sore throat and cough. This would NOT have been a problem, except I was scheduled for the hour-long closing conference keynote on Thursday. The good news is that I had zero fever and it was NOT Covid. The bad news was my voice was NOT good. I did the talk “In Pursuit of Eudaimonia” with 340ish attendees and got through it, but only with the assistance of a hot mic.
I had to cancel my Friday in Missoula and ended up in Urgent Care, with a diagnosis of bronchitis or possibly pneumonia, which was rather unpleasant over the weekend.
Having recovered (mostly), by yesterday, I recorded a podcast (Justin Angle’s “A New Angle” on Montana Public Radio) at the University of Montana College of Business. Thanks to a helpful pharmaceutical consult with a helpful woman at Albertsons, I had just the right amount of expectorant, later combined with a strong cough suppressant, to make it through 90 minutes of fun conversation with Justin without coughing into the podcast microphone. We talked about “Good Faith” in politics, society, and relationships. The episode will air in early June.
And now . . . I’m in beautiful Butte, Montana, where I’m doing an all-day (Thursday) workshop for the Montana Sex Offender Treatment Association. . . on Strengths-Based Suicide Assessment and Treatment . . . at the Copper King Hotel and Convention Center. Not surprisingly, having slept a bit extra the past five days, I’m up and wide awake at 4:30am, with not much to do other than post a pdf of my ppts for the day. Here they are:
Thanks for reading and thanks for being the sort of people who are, no doubt, doing what you can to make Montana and the world a little kinder and more compassionate place to exist.
Be well.
John Sommers-Flanagan 
Glad you’re on the mend and grateful for helpful pharmaceutical consults!
John! This is so impressive. I don’t know how you do it all. Even when feeling terrible I bet you crushed it and provided everyone with such valuable information and thought. I’m so sorry you weren’t feeling well.
I think you are working too hard. Making too many commitments. You need to take better care of yourself so you can continue your good work by helping, educating and making the entire planet a happier & better place in which to live. Especially in MT and WA.
Sending you healing thoughts,
Mama Kaye
Hi Kaye, As usual, you are correct. I will take better care of myself in the future. Please make sure you and Matt do the same! JSF
On it! Heading to the river. Health & happiness abound!
k
Did you go to Front Street Market in Butte? If you have not been, you need to meet Jimmy Yakovich there.
This speaks to your sense of obligation—glad you went to see the medical people.
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Hi Pep, I think I’ve been there, but not this trip, as I took it easy. I hope all is well in your world. Best, JSF
It has wonderful canned foods from ethnic minorities in Butte, good deli meats and salads and lunch. I don’t drink wine because of the sulfites but I’m told the wine selection is good if you and Rita do.
Pearl Jewell | Release of Information/Data Analysis Clerk
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