Day 1155: Winnings

While I didn’t win a chance to advance in the tryouts for “The Voice” last weekend, I did win lots of other things during my winter vacation, including:

• Precious time spent with my long-time and true-blue  friends Jeanette, Hillel, and Barbara.
• An amazing necklace.

• Lots of new images captured on my iPhone, including these from yesterday:

That last winning photo shows my winning cat Oscar watching people winning  Oscars, last night.

What else did I win, during my winter vacation?  At the American Group Psychotherapy Association yearly conference,  I heard a new and winning definition of forgiveness. And while my winning memory can’t remember that new definition of forgiveness right now, I’m going to write the winning person who quoted it, so I can pass that winning definition on to you in a future winning post.

In the meantime, my online winnings today included these other winning definitions of forgiveness:

“Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.”  — Robert Brault

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” — Paul Boese

“It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive.  Forgive everybody.” — Maya Angelou

“Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their behavior.  Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying your heart.” —  Hemant Smarty

“Forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness but because you deserve peace.”  — Jonathan Lockwood Huie

“Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished, but because the wounded are merciful.”  — Max Lucado

“There is no love without forgiveness and there is no forgiveness without love.”  — Bryant M. McGill

“Life is an adventure in forgiveness.” — Norman Cousins

What other winnings are mine, today?

1. Returning to a job I love and
2. your presence, here and now.

Winning thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and special thanks to you  — of course! — for visiting.

Day 1154: Come in and ask!

Yesterday, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I saw this:

  

No matter where I go, I have many questions,  so I really appreciate an invitation to come in and ask. 

What questions do I want to come in and ask, here and now?

Here’s one:

How can I remember the important lessons of each moment I’ve lived, as I move into the uncertainties of the future?

If you had one question you could come in and ask, what would it be?

Come in and ask about any of the images I captured yesterday. 

    
    
   

   

  

  

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

  

  

  

Come in and ask! I may not know all the answers, but who does?

Now, I’ll come in and ask you this: Of all the items pictured above, which one did I purchase in beautiful Portsmouth?

Come in and ask or answer whatever you choose. I’m just glad you’re here. 

Day 1153: More Votes

During this U.S. Presidential primary season, I have voted for a two-day getaway to New Hampshire with my long-time friend Barbara, to end my winter vacation. 

Would my readers vote to know how else I might  vote? 

Yesterday, I told Barbara I would also vote for:

1. Acceptance instead of shame. 
2. Peace of mind instead of worry. 
3. Sleep over insomnia. 
4. Fruits and vegetables over sugary snacks. 
5. Positivity over negativity. 
6. Traveling light over being weighed down by things I don’t need. 
7. Self-care instead of self-neglect.
8. Forgiveness over resentment. 
9. Moving on from mistakes rather than obsessing over them. 
10. Openness to change rather than rigidity.
11. Seeking the good in others instead of expecting the bad.
12. Enjoying the gifts around me instead of focusing on what’s missing. 
13. Gratitude over ingratitude. 
14. The present moment over everything else. 

I also cast a few photographic votes with my iPhone yesterday (most of which are from Barbara’s beautiful coloring book):

 
   
    
    
 
   

In response to my “Votes” post from yesterday, my readers voted for me to include music in this blog if I choose.  

Now I’m realizing I’ve never told you — after all the votes were in — which song I sang for 45 seconds at my audition for “The Voice” last weekend. 

In the moment of judgment, I voted for “Soothe” by Todd Rundgren. 

Why did I vote for “Soothe” over “Mad World”?

I voted for “Soothe” because it meant so much to me to sing that soothing song in a room filled with strangers. 

And, whenever possible, I vote with my head AND my heart. 

How do you vote?

As always, I choose gratitude for your voting to read this blog today. 

Day 1152: Votes

Four days from today, my home state of Massachusetts, USA, will be casting votes in a presidential primary.

I vote to tell you today that those votes on Tuesday will include the votes of:

• my boyfriend Michael,
• my son Aaron, who votes on Tuesday for the first time ever since turning the voting age of 18 three days ago, and
• me.

In the spirit of all these votes, I shall now ask my readers to cast votes for two Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally ballot questions.

Ballot question #1:  Which is your favorite photo?

 

 

Ballot question #2:  Should Ann reintroduce music into her daily blog posts?

The voting choices are as follows:

1. Ann should include music in every post.
2. Ann should continue leaving music out of her blog posts.
3. Ann should include music daily unless doing so would make her late or otherwise inconvenienced.
4. _________________________ (write-in vote).

Please vote on both ballot questions with your comments, below.

Finally, I vote to

• end this post and
• express thanks to you for voting “Yes” about this blog with your visit, here and now.

Day 1151: Seeing through my eyes (and iPhone)

I and my iPhone caught lots of eyefuls, yesterday, in inimitable New York City:

I and my iPhone invite you to use your illuminating inner eye of intuition and indicate which eyeful above is most interesting to

• me,
• my iPhone, and
• you.

I and my iPhone now need to catch more eyefuls on the train from New York City to Boston.

See you tomorrow and and an eyeful of thanks for bringing your eyes here, today.

 

Day 1150: Around

Around now, in the morning, is when I write and post my daily blog.

For the past two days, I’ve been around New York’s Time Square, attending a conference around lots of other group therapists.

For around a week I’ve been getting around four hours of sleep a night. Last night I got around two additional hours, which will help me get around better.

Yesterday, I spent around eight hours with a group of people who want to get around barriers to expressing themselves fully through music, drama, and art, especially when they are around judgmental audiences.

Around the half-way point  yesterday, I stood up in the group of around eight people and  sang out with loud, round tones:

I am a singer!

… and received a round of applause.

Around 5:45 PM, I left Times Square to spend the night with a friend from high school, whom I’ve known for around 52 years.  In around two hours, I’ll be attempting to get around by subway back to the group therapy conference, for another round of healing around the same group of therapists/performers I met yesterday. It might be raining around the time I leave, but I have a round umbrella to help me get around.

Here’s around eight photos of round things I noticed around me, yesterday,  as I was getting around:

Around this point in my blog posts, I get around to asking for a round of comments.

Stop by tomorrow for another round of this blog,  which will probably take around five minutes to read.

Of course,  I always get around to a round of thanks to my around 3,000 readers — including you! — for coming around here today.

Day 1149: Hope and Love in Times Square

I took a train from Philadelphia to NYC, yesterday, to attend a group therapy conference at a hotel located in Times Square. Because the weather was so beautiful, I walked the entire way with my suitcase from New York’s Penn Station to Times Square.

What are your associations with Times Square in New York City?

Personally, my immediate association with Times Square is the massive New Year’s Eve celebration there, every year. Yesterday, Times Square wasn’t quite as crowded, so there was plenty of room for hope …

… and love.

As I was rolling my suitcase through Times Square, I met a lovely and helpful Public Safety Officer named Joseph. Encountering kind people, especially in a place like Times Square, always gives me hope about humankind.

At the end of our brief conversation, Joseph and I gave each other a high five — a very hopeful and lovely way to connect with another person, don’t you think?

For me, there are certain things that can get in the way of accessing the hope and love  available in any location, including:

• insufficient self-care, like not enough sleep, nourishing food, water, or access to what sustains me  (nature, music, art, animals,  etc.),
• negative assumptions about other people and their intentions,
• worry about the future,
• fear of the unfamiliar,
• dread about repeating past difficult experiences, and
• doubting my own strengths and abilities.

Which of the images in this blog post convey hope and love to you?

Hope and love to you — on  this 23rd day of February, 2016 — from Times Square.

Day 1148: Prizes

While I didn’t get a  call-back “red card” at yesterday’s try-outs for “The Voice” in Philadelphia, there are many prizes in my life.  These prizes include:

• My son,  Aaron, turning 18 tomorrow!
• My other family members.
• My boyfriend Michael, turning humor and caring into gold, wherever he goes.
• My friend Jeanette, who lives in Philadelphia.

• My other friends.
• My work as a group and individual psychotherapist.
• My blogging community.
• The group therapy conference I am attending tomorrow and Wednesday in New York City, which includes this offering:

Developing the Whole Performer: Cultivating Artistry through a Unique Group Therapy Model.

Being a musician, artist, or performer is a demanding process fraught with inherent challenges. Explore a potent group therapy model for supporting artistic expression while facing what inhibits excellence. This institute integrates mindfulness practices, performance exercises, and group process to assist artists in achieving peak performance. (Applicable to musicians, performers, and creative souls. Instruments and creative means are welcome.)

• Every moment of precious life.
• These photos I took recently:

It’s a mighty prize and a mighty privilege writing for you all.  Many thanks to all the prizes in my life, including you!

Day 1147: The results are in ….

I didn’t get a call back from my audition for “The Voice” today, but neither did lots of great singers.

I let my voice ring out with no sound of nervousness.

One highlight of the experience: when I was in the “holding area” with hundreds of other people, a young woman came up to me and said, “I really like your jacket and your energy.”

Here are  three photos for this bonus post of “The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally.”

  

All the best to my readers and use your voice!

Day 1147: The City of Love

Philadelphia means the “The City of Brotherly Love.”

[William] Penn named the city Philadelphia, which is Greek for brotherly love (from philos, “love” or “friendship”, and adelphos, “brother”). As a Quaker, Penn had experienced religious persecution and wanted his colony to be a place where anyone could worship freely.

Yesterday, I saw lots of love in Philadelphia.

Which photos do you love, brothers and sisters?

Today, I’m going to the Open Call audition for “The Voice” at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  I’m expecting to encounter a LOT of musical love in all the hundreds and hundreds of people trying out there.

After I sing, I’ll either receive a “Red Card” for a call-back or I won’t.  Either way, I’ll show twice as much daily love as usual here at this blog, by putting up a second post with the results.

And no matter what the outcome, I resolve to show and feel the same amount of love towards myself and to others.

Show your love in a comment, if you choose. And love to all who read this blog.