Day 1826: Be nervous but don’t be afraid.

I’m nervous but I won’t be afraid of pointing out that this is my second blog post in a row where I’m telling my readers how to be. Yesterday, I quoted the sign “Be Visible” and today I’m quoting this, by graphic designer and artist Sam Lee.

On this last day of 2017, I’m doing my best to be nervous but not afraid of 2018.

Be nervous but don’t be afraid of today’s other photos.

A Zen cat I know (my son Aaron) recently told me: “Don’t be afraid of using more words in your posts, instead of relying so much on your photos.”  Every morning, I nervously resolve to write more words here but, somehow, my photos seem to say so much.   For example, I am nervous but not afraid of

• IDs,
• traffic,
• running,
• being extraordinary,
• being chicken,
• unlikely friendships, and
• cats peeing on things.

For five years, this daily blog has helped me be nervous but not afraid of many challenges of life, including getting a mechanical heart valve

and moving to a new home by the sea.

Be nervous but don’t be afraid of expressing your thoughts and feelings in a comment, if you choose.

As usual, I’m nervous but not afraid of expressing how grateful I am to all those who help me create this blog and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 1825: Be visible

Yesterday, when I chose to be visible in Cambridge, Massachusetts with my son, this sign was visible.

Several years ago, I wrote and published  Day 609: Invisible, which can still be visible here. 

These days I’m choosing to be visible, and there are visible advantages and risks of that choice. When you choose to be visible, there may be visible

• attention,
• criticism,
• support,
• pressure,
• feedback,
• help,
• disappointment,
• praise,
• indifference,
• understanding,
• misunderstanding,
• anxiety,
• feelings,
• mistakes,
• surprises,
• growth, and
• expectations.

Are there expectations that more photos will be visible here?

Here’s “Let them Be VISIBLE” on YouTube:

 

Perhaps some comments will be visible, below.

I’m hoping that my gratitude will be visible to all who helped this post be visible and — of course! —  to YOU.

Day 1824: Why am I feeling this way?

Why am I feeling this way?

Yesterday, somebody in therapy asked that question and then another question about feelings. Because of the way I was feeling, I wrote both questions up on the board.

Now, I’m going to ask myself those two questions.

Why am I feeling this way?

I’m not sure.  It could be the extreme cold, the lack of light, this time of  year, the news, politics, pain I feel when I use my dominant arm, and awareness of other people’s suffering.

What is this feeling?

I’m not sure. It’s probably a mixture of fear, sadness, anger, and empathy.

Now I’m going to ask myself those two important questions, again.

Why am I feeling this way?

I’m not sure. It could be my son, my partner, my family and friends, my work, my blogging community, my home, our cats, and awareness of my other blessings.

What is this feeling?

I’m not sure. It’s probably a mixture of gratitude, happiness, and hope.

Why am I feeling that it helps to ask those questions? Because of my experience.

Why am I feeling this way about these photos?

 

What is this feeling? I’m not sure.  Is “Stop and Smell the Roses” a feeling?

Why am I feeling this way about this video?

What is this feeling?  It’s gratitude for all who helped me create this post and — of course! — for YOU.

 

 

Day 1823: It’s here!

It’s here!

What’s here?

• A shoe rack/bench for our hallway,
• Wind chill factors of -10 degrees F,
• A new day,
• This moment,
• Some hope for the future, and
• My other photos from yesterday.

Actually, the New Year isn’t here, but it’s close!

Looking for music?  It’s here!

Expecting a request for comments?  It’s here!

Gratitude for all who helped me create this post and for you?  It’s here!

 

Day 1822: How to have fewer regrets

Yesterday, I saw this:

I didn’t write down the tips from that New York Times Magazine article, but I have no regrets about that.

I remember that  the article said regret is the second most common human emotion.  I have no regrets about that, either.

I’ve linked to the same blog post about regrets three times in this post, and I have no regrets about that.

 

Here’s one way to have fewer regrets: decide not to have them.

Another way to have fewer regrets is to spend time with people you love.

 

I have no regrets about my other photos from yesterday.

 

Think seriously and think honestly  about how to have fewer regrets.

I have no regrets about finding and sharing this YouTube video about how to have fewer regrets:

 

One more way to have fewer regrets:  Express appreciation whenever you can.

 

Day 1821: You don’t say

As a group therapist, I notice what people say and what people don’t say.

Sometimes, people don’t say

• what’s bothering them,
• opinions that are different from others around them,
• “I can do this but I can’t do this,”
• how they truly feel,
• something they fear will hurt another person’s feelings,
• “Ouch!”
• positive things about themselves,
• what they need in the moment,
• “I love you,”
• swear words,
• buzzwords, and
• the word “merry.“

What don’t you say?

I usually don’t say, “Can I take this picture?”

 

I don’t say I’m a birdwatcher, but  I do say I love those two gifts from Michael.

I don’t say, “No videos in this blog.”

If you don’t say thanks, people might not know you appreciate them.  I do say thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to you, no matter what you do or don’t say.

Day 1820: Merry

Merry is a  word so rare

One that people seldom share.

Christmas is the perfect time

to use it in a  blogger’s rhyme.

Why is the sound of “merry”

So, so extraordinary?

Here’s hoping we’ll all be merry

On days that are more ordinary.

Last night, for merry parity

Instead of gifts, we gave to charity

Including Habitat for Humanity,

a merry bastion of sanity.

Here are merry photos from the night

Filled with love and lots of light.

 

God rest ye merry gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay.

Here‘s a song to celebrate

This merry Christmas day.

 

Merry thanks to all who help me write

And to all my merry readers, good day and night!

Day 1819: Buzzwords

During any busy and buzzy times of the year (like now), I notice buzzwords.

Do I hear a buzz in the audience about the meaning of buzzwords?

buzz·word
ˈbəzˌwərd/
noun informal
plural noun: buzzwords
a word or phrase, often an item of jargon, that is fashionable at a particular time or in a particular context.

I have a  simpler definition of “buzzwords.”

Words creating a buzz.

I think it’s important to pay attention to the words buzzing around us.

Do you see any buzzwords in my other photos from yesterday?

 

Sweets give me a sugar buzz, especially this time of the year. Which buzzwords are buzzing around you, right now?

Here‘s a  “buzzwords” video buzzing on YouTube:

Here‘s another one:

Here‘s one with music:

Feel free to create a buzz in the comments section, below, with your buzzwords.

Finally, the best buzzwords for all who helped me create this post and for you (of course!) are ….

.

.

 

(a buzz of anticipation)

.

.

.

Day 1818: Children

Almost exactly three years ago, I published another post titled “Children.”    ‘Tis the season, I suppose, for visions of children to dance in my head.

Also, I saw this yesterday:

Are visions of children dancing in my other photos from yesterday?

That’s my only child, Aaron. When I was a child, I was told it was not advisable for me to have children because of my very unusual heart.   I doubt that outdated advice is in this book …

….which my child and I saw yesterday at a local library.

Children are good for a happy, healthy heart. So is music like this:

Thanks to all the children and adults who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 1817: Warm wishes

Warm wishes

from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

For years, I’ve wished for a fireplace to keep me warm.

Sometimes, warm wishes come true.

Do you see warm wishes in these other photos?

 

Let’s chill out with these Warm Wishes from a Christmas Cat.

 

I’m taking the advice in that video and enjoying the time with my family, my loved ones, and my pets.

Thanks to all who helped me share the warm wishes in this post and — of course! — to YOU.