Before I got my current job as a psychotherapist at a major teaching hospital in Boston, I worked for 12 years at a group-oriented psychiatric day program — first as a clinician and then as the director.
Look at me! I’ve been a group therapist for over 16 years!
The staff at the psychiatric day program often noticed something we called
See me/Don’t see me
Here are other ways I’d describe that very common, human way of behaving, right now:
- Fear of being exposed
- Yearning for attention/fear of attention
- Accepting parts of self/rejecting others
- Trying new and unfamiliar things/the shame reaction
- I deserve attention/I am not worthy of it
See me/Don’t see me, in this post! I already have mixed feelings about how I’m writing it.
Look at me! I’m digressing from the big news of this July 4, 2105 blog post. Yesterday, I had the day off from work and I went to see the musical Newsies in Boston.
Look at me! I’m in Harvard Square, on my way to Newsies.
Look at me! I took a picture of Peet’s in Harvard Square, where my bf Michael and I first looked at each other five years ago (after writing each other daily for two months online at OkCupid).
Look at me, back on my way to see Newsies!
Look at John! He’s one of the security guys at the Boston Opera House. He used to work as a parole officer and he told me, “My wife tells me to smile in pictures, but I say, ‘That hurts!'”
Look at me, at yesterday’s matinee performance of Newsies!
Look at me showing you how the lead role of Jack Kelly (played by Christian Bale in the 1992 film) was performed by an understudy, Michael Ryan.
Look at me! I don’t have any pictures of Michael Ryan and how AMAZING he was, including his grateful tears when we all gave him a standing ovation at the end of the show.
Look at these photos I took on my way back home, after seeing Newsies:
Look at me! I just spent an hour looking for this video made 8 years ago by three girls in the United Kingdom, performing “King of New York,” my favorite song from Newsies:
If you look at that video on YouTube, you’ll see that I wrote a comment four years ago, and they answered me!
Look at me! I forgot to mention that “King of New York” includes the line
Look at me! I’m the King of New York.
Look at all these people performing “King of New York”!
Look at you! What do you think of this post today? Look at me — as usual, I’m looking for comments.
Thanks to everybody I’ve ever worked with in group therapy, to Newsies, to Michael, to OkCupid, to security guy John, to understudy/star Michael Ryan, to Harvard Square, to Boston, to all those who have ever sung or danced to “King of New York,” to all the kings, queens, princes, and princesses I saw in Cambridge and Boston yesterday, and special thanks to you — of course! — for looking here, today.
What a journey you’ve brought us on! I love it, all the steps, all the shares. I especially can’t get the flow chart for ice cream out of my head.
Look at Eli! He’s leaving a great comment on this post! Look at me! I’m thrilled. Thanks, Eli!
Look at Ann’s superb writing, as always. That’s where to look.
It takes one superb writer to know another one, Eli!
I wonder if this also means the horrible writers can identify each other too … and if so, how do we know which category we both fit in? #DeepThoughtsBeforeBreakfast
We KNOW, Eli.
Look at me.” My name is Ann Curry, and I used to co-host the Today show. When they fired me, they lost a lot of viewers, and few would look at Matt Lauer the same way ever again.”
Her undoing by NBC execs was known as “Operation Bambi” because of the effect it might have. They were right. I have never, ever watched NBC’s Today show since that time.
p.s. Sorry, Ann…the parade from 2011 just reminded me. I, too, love the ice cream photo. ☺ Happy 4th !
Look at Van! She feels the same way about Ann Curry and Matt Lauer as I do. No need to apologize. Happy 4th, Van!!
More excellent pics, but, unless you are behind the turtle’s head, I don’t see you
Look at you, Derrick, looking for me! I’m in a couple of those photos, I believe.
Did you cheat and get someone else to photograph you from the rear? 🙂
Look at you, accusing me of cheating! No, my reflection is in a few of those photos.
I concede.
Look at me! I won!
🙂
Ann, I think it’s super cool that you and your bf first met online! Happy 4th to you, Michael and Aaron! ❤
Diana xo
Look at Diana, leaving this super cool comment! Happy 4th to you, from all of us here. ❤ ❤ ❤ xo xo xo
So glad you found Michael 🙂
Look at you, Alex, being glad for other people’s happiness. I’m not surprised, and I’m so glad you and I found each other’s blogs!
Can you hope I find someone too 🙂 I want to be as happy as you
Keep looking, Alex! You’ll find somebody.
Look at you Ann!! Such a huge fan of Newsies and sharing it with the world. You got my attention that’s for sure!!
Look at Val! She’s a Queen of WordPress!
Feels a little weird …. ☺️
Deal with it! ❤
Look at you!! 😁
I look at you every time I come here, Ann, and I always like what I see.
Look at Maureen, making me happier, as usual.
Look at me – I’m speechless! But, I love the photos and the tour, Ann. 😉
Look at Judy! She’s not speechless, and I’m glad.
I’m so glad to hear more about your life as it seems so exciting; so full of growth and stories to tell. Your blog is like an adventure.
Look at Maria! I’m always so glad to see her.
Look at me!
(via http://giphy.com/search/cat-king)
Oh Ann, don’t listen to this fur-ball.
Look at that KING! Thanks for bringing that fur-ball over here, Maria.
Did someone just call me???
(via http://www.websophist.com/Beauty_QueenWigCatM.jpg)
It’s the Queen of This Post!
I know, but someone just called me!
“It must be that fur-ball swinging that tail! Listen Ann, he’s not a king at all. My name is Samantha Jeanny, and I’m the one that was supposed to come out!! Sorry for the confusion.”
Look at Samantha!
“Finally, someone recognizes me, that fur-ball took my place!”
See me/don’t see me has come up in discussion today in a different context. Writers need to say look at me, look at my book and yet most can’t bring themselves to say even the first part. We are very perverse. A couple of years back, instead of being elated when an agent rang me, I was cast into a state of anxiety at the whole notion of becoming visible.
Thank you for keeping me up to date, I hadn’t heard of Newsies.
Look at Hilary! And look at me, so pleased to see her and also expressing a guess that it’s not so much perverse as introverted.
Stop the Presses! Look at Ann, oh, joy! All the Newsies that’s fit to print. Some days I have been the King of (Syracuse) New York, and it is good.
Look at Mark, he’s the King of New York!
Look at you in a pretty red shirt- hope you had some ice cream after seeing such a wonderful show!!
Look at Lisa, with a kind and wonderful comment!
The photos that you share here in this post are great ~ full of life and adventure, and yes a bit of that “look at me” feeling that we all have inside us. Wonderful!
Look at Randall! I LOVE when you visit here.
Yes, look at me 🙂 Wishing you the best this glorious weekend Ann ~
I had something I wrote than worried people would see then decided I didn’t care. I’m not sure how I feel now. I have three weeks till I return … with a new concoction adjusting here and there. It’s all good.
I’m glad it’s all good, Bob.
Look at the awesome pictures!
Look at Kim, being awesome!
I love looking at your world through your lens! Look at me looking at your world through your lens! Look at you taking amazing pictures and sharing them! I love the way the pictures flow together! In addition to enjoying your song choice, look at me finding other songs to sing because of your post: Somewhere over the Rainbow (from your Rainbow pic) and Bridge over Troubled Water… look at me finding 2 songs with the word “over”! Look at you inspiring more people with your lens and your views!
Look at you, posting yet another amazing, lovely, and inspiring comment! Many thanks to you.
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