Day 2007: Don’t Look Back

Don’t look back at my recent posts, or you might see this:

Don’t slavishly obey people who tell you what to do or not to do.  Look back if you want to — you might see something important.

When I look back at yesterday, I see all these things, looking back.

 

 

When I look back, I see beauty, clouds, benevolence, sympathy, fear, worry, my son Aaron, his friend Cameron, books, bunnies, and Boston.

What do you see when you look back?

Here‘s Boston telling us “Don’t Look Back.”

When I looked back at YouTube just now,  this was playing after “Don’t Look Back.”

I look forward to looking back at whatever comments there are for this “Don’t Look Back” post.

Don’t look back at my blog if you don’t want to see gratitude looking back at you.

 

 

Day 2006: I Can’t See Clearly Now

Even though “I Can See Clearly Now” is one of my favorite songs, I can’t see clearly now.

I can see clearly, now, the original lyrics:

Here are new lyrics for “I Can’t See Clearly Now””

I can’t see clearly now

There’s darkness here.

So many obstacles in our way.

It seems like everyone is acting blind.

When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?

When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?

 

I hope we can make it now

The pain is here.

All of these bad feelings have reappeared

Where is the rainbow I’ve been praying for?

When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?

 

Look all around, I don’t see blue skies.

Look straight ahead, I’m sighing some blue sighs.

 

I can’t see clearly now

There’s darkness there.

So many obstacles in our way.

Where are the the people so humane and kind?

When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?

When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?

Can you see clearly, now, my other photos for today?

 

 

 

Even though there’s not much left to take from that kristindudish.com heart, there’s still inspiration there. Let’s take what we need wherever we can find it.

I can see gratitude clearly here, always.

 

Day 2005: Here are the questions …

If you’re searching for the answer behind today’s title, here it is:

Here are the questions …

• Who is welcome?
• Where are the safe places?
• How should we enter?
• What is the next step forward?
• Why don’t more people vote?
• What will they vote for next?
• Who’s in charge?
• What is justice?
• Who are the justices?
• Who is corrupt?
• Who is fighting for the rights of the people?
• Why should we build walls?
• What would make you happy?
• What endures?
• What does it mean to be strong?
• When will strong women no longer be called “bitchy”?
• Why should I smile today?
• Who  listens to radio?
• What are people listening to?
• Why can’t I get to sleep after checking the news?
• What important questions are missing here?
• What other photos did I take yesterday?

Where is there a space reserved for your comments?  Below.

Here are questions and answers by Pat Metheny:

 

Who is grateful for all who helped me create this questionable post and for all who are reading it? Ann is.

Day 2004: A Word

Can I have a word with you?

Yesterday was a day when I added an amalgam of A words to a whiteboard.

Are any of those A words applicable to anybody at all?

In the afternoon, I expressed another A word about words on the news:

Aaaarrrrghhhhh!

Any A words addressed anywhere below?

After a day like yesterday, Ann needs a moment to say “Ahhhhhhh.”

Here are additional A words.

Ann announces an admiration for anyone who leaves a word, below.

Another A word:

A word of gratitude for all is always available here.

Day 2003: Unexpressed thoughts

At the end of a therapy group or any other important gathering, I sometimes ask if there are unexpressed thoughts.  And, of course, there always are.

On the plane home from Chicago, I expressed some unexpressed thoughts by writing my third original song in the past two months.  I’d like to express my surprise at this new and previously unexpressed and unexplored creative outlet.

The title of this new song might be “Unexpressed Thoughts.”  Here are some previously unexpressed lyrics:

What am I thinking?

What’s going on in my mind?

If you were psychic

What hidden thoughts would you find?

If you could do that,

Look inside of my brain,

Would you go through that?

Might there be lessons to gain?

© Ann Koplow,  2018

I have unexpressed indecision about the lyrics following those.  Do you have any thoughts about which version you prefer? Feel free to express those thoughts (or any others) below.

If you want to hear the thoughts in here, I’ll share.

My inner mind you now will find, laid bare.

© Ann Koplow, 2018

OR

If you want to know let’s have a show of hands.

Okay, here goes, let’s see who understands.

© Ann Koplow, 2018

And then, I express my unexpressed thoughts in song.

Let’s see if there are any unexpressed thoughts in my photos from yesterday.

I wonder about Harley’s unexpressed thoughts. I expressed my thought last night that one of those clouds looked like a dragon and Michael expressed agreement.   And Aaron and I expressed our gratitude about another delicious meal from Michael.

Are there any unexpressed thoughts on YouTube?  I found unexpressed thoughts here,

here,

and here.

Gratitude is rarely unexpressed here, so thanks to all who helped me expressed these unexpressed thoughts today and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 2002: What gives you a lift?

In times like these,  it’s important to ask the question “What gives you a lift?”

What gives me a lift includes a visit to Chicago,

sunshine, being near the water,

urban parks,

liberty,

freedom of the press,

 

Edinburgh, Scotland (which I’m visiting again with my son in August), good public transportation,

Lyft drivers who have candy for their passengers,

sand sculptures,

embracing that it’s my time to fly, and most of all, coming home.

My friend Dave guarantees that watching this will give me a lift:

 

It did!  I’m sure your comments will give me a lift, too.

Gratitude, as always, gives me a lift. Thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

 

Day 2001: A Real Piece of Art

Yesterday, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, I saw this:

Is that a real piece of art?  Do any of my other photos today show real pieces of art? Or real pieces of anything else?

This post has 70 photos, but who’s counting? (For the answer to that question, please see yesterday’s post.)

In case it was difficult to see the real pieces of art in one of the photos above, here’s a closer look at it:

That’s the exterior of the Chicago Tribune building, which includes real pieces of art from around the world, including pieces of Edinburgh Castle and the Taj Mahal.

Here‘s a video about a real piece of art featured in today’s post:

Here‘s another one:

I’ve been working on real pieces of a new song, which somebody recorded when I performed it yesterday. Perhaps a real piece of  that will show up on YouTube soon, too.

I’m looking forward to real pieces of comments, below.

A real piece of gratitude to all the real pieces of art and real pieces of other things that appeared in today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 2000: Two thousand days of blogging

When I wrote my first blog post on January 1, 2013,  I never thought I’d still be here,  now, blogging away.

Two thousand thanks to all who helped me blog daily, including Michael who took over for two posts (here and here ) after my open heart surgery on September 21, 2016. Michael’s two posts had the most likes and the most comments in the last two thousand days, but who’s counting?

Actually, over the last two thousand days, I’ve asked “Who’s counting?” many, many times, and I think today is a great day to reveal the answer to that question.

Who’s counting? Me.  I’m counting.  And I’ve been counting on this blog and on all of you to help me learn, grow, and get through every day.

Let’s see if the latest photos on my iPhone are relevant for today.

They were taking off the roof of this house yesterday on the South Shore of Boston.  Later that day, I saw and heard somebody in a Chicago subway station tap dancing to “Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.” (A song that helped me get through pneumonia, as described in this April 18, 2016 post.)

One of my quests over the last two thousand days was to move near the water, and I made it! Here’s a link to one of the many posts from that quest.

Over the last two thousand days, I’ve collected hundreds if not thousands of thank you’s.

There’s Boston, my home town.

This blog has given me an exit to hopelessness, worry, and judgment.

With readers like mine and my apparently endless commitment to blogging, the sky’s the limit!

When we were walking around Chicago yesterday, I asked my son Aaron if he thought that photo was interesting or funny.  We couldn’t decide.

As usual, I’m going to throw in the rest of my photos from yesterday and hope they fit the post.

 

 

I got this great video for today’s post!

As always, thanks to all who help me create this daily blog and — of course! — to YOU.

 

Day 1999: Presidential

What does “presidential” mean to you?

Here’s an online definition:

pres·i·den·tial
ˌprezəˈden(t)SH(ə)l
adjective
relating to a president or presidency.
“the French presidential election”
having a bearing or demeanor befitting a president; dignified and confident.
“America wants a president who looks presidential”

Do you believe that America wants a president who looks presidential?

This president-elect of a group psychotherapy organization needs a presidential photo.

 

Which of those looks the most presidential to you?

Are any of the following photos (taken by a soon-to-be-president) dignified. confident, or otherwise presidential?

This month’s big presidential question IS where do we go from here?

This president-elect is going from here to Chicago today, for a gathering of other group psychotherapy presidents. Here is Chicago asking “Where Do We Go from Here?”

Presidential thanks to all who helped me create this presidential post and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 1998: Good

It’s good that I noticed that my first two photos from yesterday have good in them.

Do you see the good there, my good people?  Do you see the good in other people? Do you see more good than bad?

I guess I see more good than bad:   I’ve written 41 posts here with the word “Good” in the title (starting with Day 3: The Fear of Feeling Too Good) and I’ve written 14 posts with the word “Bad” in the title (starting with Day 263: Bad Day/Good Day, which has good in it, too).

Do you see the good in the other photos here?

A good friend texted me that good drawing, above, with this good caption: “Got your back.”

Last night, at a good board meeting, I sang a small portion of this very good song from Into the Woods,  in memory of our very good friend, Michelle.

The good lyrics I sang were these:

Sometimes people leave you

Halfway through the wood.

Do not let it grieve you

No one leaves for good.

You are not alone.  No one is alone.

It’s always good to end with thanks.  Thanks to all who help me create all my good posts, including this one, and to you — of course! — for being good enough to be here, now.