Take a break, my dear readers, and ask yourself this question: Do you need to take a break from anything, as you’re reading this blog post?
I definitely need to take a break, from
- worry,
- fear,
- low-grade fevers,
- assumptions,
- judgment,
- disrespect,
- disappointment,
- stress,
- tension,
- anxiety,
- shame,
- impatience,
- pefectionism,
- an over-developed sense of responsibility, and
- the thirteen all-too-human cognitive distortions, including blaming, comparisons, shoulds, labeling, personalization, all-or-nothing thinking, mind-reading, fortune-telling, and catastrophizing.
I took a break, yesterday, from negative assumptions about cardiac surgeons (based on some difficult past experiences), when I spoke on the phone to Dr. Joe Dearani from the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Dearani is going to break into my very unusual heart on September 21 to replace my severely leaky valve with a mechanical valve, so that my doctors and I can take a break from concerns about deterioration of my heart’s pumping ability. Dr. Dearani told me that he takes a break from work, sometimes, by visiting my hometown of Boston, because a lot of his relatives live in the New England area.
After I spoke with Dr. Dearani, I was able to take a break and truly relax, for the first time in quite a while.
Yesterday, I took short breaks throughout the day to take some take-a-break photos:
I also took a break from wondering why this photo, from yesterday’s blog post, has gotten absolutely no comments from any of my readers:
What music do you think would help us all take a break in this post?
Because I have not been able to take a break from my fascination with Hamilton, I’m including this link to “Take a Break,” from that break-through musical.
I just took another break to watch this on YouTube:
When I had my first heart surgery when I was 10 years old, I took a valuable break by watching “The Price is Right” in the hospital, a few days after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. I remember taking a break, all by myself, laughing until it hurt about the weird ugliness of the car they were giving away that day. (A Jaguar, no less, but what does a 10-year-old girl know about cool cars?)
Do you think you have time to take a break today and leave a comment for this post?
I would never take a break from expressing gratitude to all those who help me create these posts and to you — of course! — for reading them.
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
Yes, I need to take a break right now from worry. Or, rather, from the things that are causing g the worry. But I don’t need to take a break from your cats! I did notice that photo yesterday of the cat enjoying your chicken soup next to the Tufts medical info sheet and the car stain odour remover. I loved it and thought that your spirits might be lifted by the cat drinking the soup even more than by drinking the soup yourself. I am glad your new doctor is a mensch.
Your comments always give me the kind of break I need, Maureen. ❤
I think we need to take a break from something from time to time. I believe that can help get our mind in balance again.
Our thoughts are breaking in a similar direction about this. Thanks for this balanced comment.
James Corden really knows how to take a break. Fun start to the day.
I’ve been enjoying taking more breaks watching him, Ruth. Your comment is a fun start to my day.
I like your list of things to take a break from — and I need to take a break from worrying about ending a sentence in a preposition. 🙂
Coming here is always a nice way to break in my day.
Whenever you break in your day with a visit here, Louise, I take a break from everything negative.
Good luck with your surgery. Bet it is a relief to find a great doctor. Love The Price is Right! Cats are hilarious. Love your picture. Last night my cat was STANDING on the window sill, feet outstretched on the glass, staring at a frog on the outside of the pane! Too cute! Hope you have a great day!
Cats and great comments like yours, Jessica, give me wonderful breaks!
Oh! How nice of you!
Thanks for the morning smiles. ☺
I’m so glad you broke into a smile, Van! ❤
The photo of the cat made me laugh. 🙂 I love your photos as always. Another great post. Wishing you a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Brenda! Your lovely comment gave me a wonderful break.
From time to time we need to take a break from everything and live our lives.
Wonderful to see you here! Thanks for taking a break to visit.
My pleasure, Ann 🙂
wonderfully encourages
taking a break from
what i’ve been taking
a break from 🙂
i hope my
admiration for you
breaks through
here
I’ve been learning to take a break from thinking I can do everything; that letting go of some things is so freeing Ann. ❤
Diana xo
Those are wonderful breaks to take, Diana! ❤
Ann, you are just so precious! I need to take a break from the incredible stress and responsibility that comes with caring for a last stage in Hospice beloved fur angel. I am learning that stress that makes my hair fall out by the handful (which it has begun to again .. darn it!) is not healthy nor makes matters any better. Heck! I need a break from MY Life right about now! Care to join me?
As for your pictures …. yep, I relate. Photos are my sanity check. My zone. You and I both have the same Angel cards FYI with my present care saying “Surrender”. I think I will pick another today. LOVE the pic of your cat in your soup. I have a few like that who must either smell what I am eating or test taste it to make sure well, that you know, it’s not poison. (smile)
Getting your mind off of what is to come, for both of us, is tantamount for both of our sanities. Bless you for continuing to reach out a caring and Loving hand. YOU take care of yourself, dear friend. And I promise to do my best to do the same. BREATHE. Yep, for both of us!!! xoxoxoxoxo ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank you for the glorious break of this comment, precious Amy! ❤ ❤ ❤
❤ (((HUGS))) ❤
When I was 14 I spent a fortnight in an eye hospital following a cricketing injury. I was forced to take a break from reading. All I could do was listen to Doris Day singing Que Sera Sera on the radio. It’s just possible I’ve mentioned this before 🙂
It’s just possible I offered you a break like this before, Derrick.
I thought so. Thanks again 🙂
Fo me, I’m going to take a break from blogging today and finish a real book!! It’s been too long ☺️
So glad I caught up a bit with you!
It’s always a healing break for me to encounter you on WordPress, Val!
That was such a nice reminder.. to take a break.. the thoughts keep running like a non stop train.. as I read your post I felt the awareness of running thought..when did I consciously stop this train? I don’t even remember doing that.. but now you surely gave me an opportunity..we all need such moments so direly ! Thank-you for sharing this 🙂
I’m so glad this post invited you to take a break from the non-stop train of thoughts. You are not alone in those running thoughts — it’s the human race. ❤
It certainly got my attention, but I dared not say anything. Oscar, the least you can do is apologize!!!
Gross, at least I do it when no one is around!
Maybe these cats will train Oscar to take a break from these outrageous behaviors!
hello ann koplow its dennis the vizsla dog hay wow yoo do deeserv a brayk from all thoze things!!! i wil be sending yoo tail wags frum now until yore serdjery to mayk shoor it goze wel!!! ok bye
hello dennis! I think your tail wags are going to help me take a lot of breaks from worry. Thank you!!! ok bye
When I was younger I would take a break each week and watch Barney Miller. And after hearing this exchange a couple of characters I’ve never been able to think of taking a break the same way:
“Give me a break!”
“Sure. What do you want broken?”
Now though I think in the future I’ll also think of Oscar taking a break to have a little chicken soup.
I love the way we all help each other take breaks and feel less broken, Chris. ❤
I am taking a break and reading your post! Glad you’ve had a good talk with the surgeon. Whew. And grinning about your ten-year-old self laughing at the ugly jaguar. What a break!
Your comment gave me a wonderful break today from these friggin’ low-grade fevers I keep running! ❤
I’m taking a break from beating myself over past mistakes. I’ve had too many to keep doing that.
PLEASE, Bradley, keep taking those kinds of breaks, as often as you can. Thank you for giving me a wonderful break with your visit.
No, I didn’t need to take a break from anything while reading tonight as today was a wonderful day and happy to jump online and walking through blog posts letting people know, I hear you 🙂 Inspirational post here and good hearts are very strong hearts Ann, wishing you the best recovery come September and many more moments like this that bring healing beyond the bones 🙂
This wonderful and inspirational comment is giving me a fabulous break. I can feel its healing power in my bones and beyond.
I’m so glad 🙂
Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
Thanks for the break of this reblog!
I thought this was a wonderful post. Relevant. Apt and Straightforward. It spoke to me. Thank you.
Your kind appreciation is giving me just the kind of break I need. Thanks so much, Sophia.
I can’t get enough of Hamilton, either. Good choice! Listening to you as you prepare for your surgery, I realize that I have a lot of things I could afford to let go of! I can honestly be a bit fixated on circumstances much less critical. You inspire me to think about those things, Ann. I’m so glad you feel more comfortable with your surgeon in advance of your big day!
It gives me a wonderful break to know that we both love Hamilton, Debra! ❤