Day 1795: Entitled

I think we’re all entitled to a definition of today’s title.

en·ti·tled
inˈtīdld,enˈtīdld
adjective
believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

Yesterday, when I entered the group room, followed by the group members, an entitled person kept talking on the phone despite my  multiple requests that he vacate the room so I could start my patient group.

One group member who witnessed this wondered whether the young doctor  felt entitled to finish his  phone call because medical systems have a hierarchy.   I felt entitled to express my opinion that in any medical hierarchy, the patients should be on the top.

We are all entitled to our opinions.

I’m wondering if my photos from yesterday relate to today’s title of “Entitled.” In any case, I’m entitled to share them.

If we realize we are acting in an entitled way, we can always try again with more empathy and compassion.

Here’s “Entitled” by Leighton Meester:

I hope you know you are entitled to make a comment, below.

Everyone who helped me create this “Entitled” post is entitled to my sincere gratitude and so are you!

Day 1794: Where we will end up

Since yesterday’s post was about where we start, today I’m giving equal time to where we will end up.

I’m not sure where this post will end up, but let’s start with this teabag:

Yesterday, I ended up happy by facilitating a therapy group where people talked about turkeys and then attending the musical The Color Purple with my sister-in-law Linda.

This is where The Color Purple ended up, which made the audience very happy.

If you end up leaving a comment, you’ll give happiness to me.

Where will this post end up?  With thanks, of course, to all who helped me create it and to you, for ending up here.

Day 1793: Start where you are

Where are you? You’re at the Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally. Start here.

Where do you want to go from where you are? Start by taking a small step. Then another.

If it’s difficult to start where that caption is, it says

Without any tennis balls around, Zoe has resorted to the limes that fall off the tree…

I want to start being more like Zoe.

“Start where you are” finds lots of videos on YouTube. Let’s start here:

Start a comment, if that’s where you are.

Where I am is here, so I’ll end with gratitude to all who helped me start and complete this post and — of course! — to you, wherever you are.

Day 1792: Yes!

Yes!  It’s another post at the Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally.

Yes!  I saw this yes-terday

and almost said “yes” to writing a post titled “No!”

Yes! I’ve already written Day 1539: The No List which includes interesting quotes about “No.” Yes!  I’ll wait while you read that other post.

Yes! There are also interesting quotes about “Yes!”

Always say ‘yes’ to the present moment… Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life – and see how life starts suddenly to start working for you rather than against you. — Eckhart Tolle

When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need.’  — Dalai Lama

Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes. — Eleanor Roosevelt

A nice person is a ‘yes’ person, whereas a good person is a person who accepts their responsibility in things and moves forward and tries to constantly evolve and isn’t afraid to say no or challenge someone or be honest or truthful. — Miranda Kerr

Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best. — John C. Maxwell

A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. — Mahatma Gandhi

The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – are those which require the most thought.  — Pythagoras

Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the furthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness: a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say ‘no.’ But saying ‘yes’ begins things. Saying ‘yes’ is how things grow. — Stephen Colbert

Never say ‘no’ to adventures. Always say ‘yes’, otherwise you’ll lead a very dull life. — Ian Fleming

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. — e. e. cummings

Yes!  That last  quote is a nice segue to other pictures from yes-terday.

 

 

Would you say “Yes!” to things that are almost funny?   What do you say “Yes!” to, here and now?

Yes! I love Yes.  Here they are, when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said “Yes” to them this year:

 

I always say “Yes!” to gratitude.  Thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — yes! —  to you.  Yes, you!

Day 1791: Disturbing

It’s disturbing to me how often I’m hearing the word “disturbing” lately.

Here’s a disturbing definition:

dis·turb·ing

dəˈstərbiNG/

adjective

1. causing anxiety; worrying.

   “disturbing unemployment figures”

Here are disturbing synonyms :

alarming, annoying, bothersome, creepy, depressing, disconcerting, discouraging, distressing, embarrassing, frightening, irritating, ominous, painful, perplexing, sinister, startling, threatening, troublesome, troubling, unpleasant, unsettling, upsetting, vexing, worrisome, worrying

and  antonyms:

agreeable, auspicious, comforting, delightful, easy, encouraging, good, happy, helpful, nice, pleasant, pleasing

Is it disturbing how many more synonyms we have for disturbing than we have antonyms?

Actually, that imbalance of language doesn’t surprise me, since human beings seem more naturally focused on what’s disturbing rather than on what’s comforting.  That automatic attention to what’s disturbing,  alarming, distressing, frightening, ominous, painful, threatening, and worrying may be an outmoded survival technique (discussed here).  In my work as a psychotherapist, I invite people to balance that hyper-awareness of all things disturbing with a conscious attention on what’s comforting, helpful, and pleasant.

What is disturbing to you, here and now?  What’s  comforting, encouraging, and helpful to you when things are disturbing?

Are any of my photos from yesterday disturbing or comforting?

 

 

 

 

I love Steely Dan, whose songs can be  disturbing AND comforting.  Here‘s “Jack of Speed” from Two Against Nature:

Is it disturbing how much Donald Fagen and Walter Becker look like me and Michael?

Thanks to all who helped me create this disturbing post and — of course! — to you, no matter what disturbs and comforts you.

Day 1790: Thankful for the little things

I’m thankful for the little things, including

• babies,
• baby animals,
• baby aspirins,
• macaroni and cheese at work on Fridays,
• slow news days (remember those?),
• my shoes,
• my toes, and
• Thanksgiving cards from friends.

I’m thankful for the little things in all my little photos from yesterday.

I’m thankful for this little video on YouTube.

What little things are you thankful for? I’m thankful for all comments, little or big.

I’m thankful for the little things in this blog post and — of course! — for YOU.

Day 1789: It’s never too late to be what you might have been.

It’s never too late to share what I might have seen yesterday.

It’s never too late to be what you might have been, including

• the child you never got to be when you were growing up,
• an adult,
•  exactly where you’re supposed to be,
• somebody who has read all of  George Eliot‘s Middlemarch,
• a female author who doesn’t need to publish under a male pseudonym to be taken seriously,
• happy, and
• thankful.

It’s never too late to post music in this blog, even after I’ve shared a big thanks.

It’s never too late to share two cat videos I love (here and here on YouTube):

It’s never too late to thank  who and what I might have thanked today, including Michael, his four siblings, their families,  George Eliot, Cities Never Sleep, BuzzFeed, children, adults,  cats, dinosaurs, octopuses, turkeys, the ocean, and — of course! — YOU.

Day 1788: Giving thanks

In all my therapy groups this week, people were giving thanks.

Today, I am giving thanks to all my readers.

I am giving thanks for the opportunity to blog and to post pictures every day, even when they have little to do with the current topic.

If you can make a story out of those photos, I’ll be giving thanks to you.

Here‘s what “giving thanks” returns on YouTube:

 

I GIVE THANKS

by Shameem

I give thanks for the morning sunrise

I give thanks for the clouds of rain

I give thanks for the joy and peace in life

I give thanks for the times of pain

I give thanks for the green grass that grows

I give thanks for nectarines and mangoes

I give thanks for all the people who cross my path

I give thanks to all the people who touch my heart

I give thanks, I give thanks.

I give thanks for all the love around me

I give thanks for the truth that has found me

I give thanks for family and for friends

I give thanks for being able to give thanks

I give thanks for every day that is breaking

I give thanks for every day that I’m waking

I give thanks for the gifts in which I’m partaking

I give thanks for the music I’m making

I give thanks, I give thanks.

 

I’m giving thanks to all who helped me create this Thanksgiving post and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 1787: Progress

I often tell people in therapy that it’s important to acknowledge and validate progress, especially their own.

Therefore, I’m going to acknowledge and validate progress in several areas.

Michael sent me the three photos he took for me on Saturday.

  

I am having a pain-free reaction this year to November 22, the anniversary of the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy and also my first heart surgery at age 10 (progressively blogged about here, here, here, here, and here).

For now, when I have my teeth cleaned (as I am today), I take only a single  pill of antibiotics instead of having an intravenous infusion  (progressively blogged about here and here).

Because I got my own INR monitor last week, I can test my blood levels at home instead of going into the hospital every few weeks to manage my anticoagulant medication.

There is progress in women feeling safer to speak up about sexual harassment.

I continue to progress in taking photos for this blog.

I hope we can make progress towards peace.

Here’s “Progress” by Mutemath:

I shall now progress in giving thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

 

 

Day 1786: For now

“For now’ is something I often say, for perspective, for clarification, for hope, and for an invitation to live in the moment.

For now, Michael still hasn’t sent me those photos he took on Saturday.

For now, I’ll keep reminding him until he remembers to send them.

For now, I have only three new photos to share with you.

 

For now, I’m placing a “Thank you” photo in the middle of a post, instead of at the end.

For now, I’m feeling some measure of peace despite all the chaos surrounding us.

For now, I’m sharing these two videos (playing, for now, here and here on YouTube):

 

For now, please express any thoughts and feelings you have for today’s post.

For now, I’m expressing gratitude for all who helped me create this post and — of course! — for you.