Day 2191: Personal 10 Best and Worst of 2018

Because I think New Year’s resolutions can be the worst, my best way of  marking the New Year is to compile my personal 10 Best and 10 Worst lists for the year.  What’s best about that ritual is that it allows me to look back over the past year in a useful way, getting some closure as we move into the brand new year.

Because I don’t want to dwell on the worst, I think it’s best that I share only my personal 10 Best of 2018 (in alphabetical order):

Aaron

Blogging

Friends

Groups

Health of those I love

Home near the ocean

Iceland/Edinburgh trip

Michael

Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy (inc. becoming President)

Original songs

There were so many bests this year,  the cats didn’t even make it on the list.  Although, maybe it’s best that I include them in the “Health of those I love” or in “Friends.”

Here are my best and worst photos from yesterday:

If you can’t read any of those photos, it’s best that you click on them to enlarge.

My son Aaron thinks that the first song I wrote is still my best.  Here it is:

I don’t know if I agree that “I Don’t Like You” is my best, but it’s certainly not my worst.

If you want to share your personal  best and/or worst of 2018, it’s best you do so in the comments section, below.

Every time I post, I do my best to thank all who help me blog every day and — of course! — YOU.  Happy New Year!

Day 2190: Framed

One of my favorite bloggers, Christopher, included this in his comment on my “Who is It?” post yesterday:

It looks like you’ve been framed.

Soon after Christopher framed that comment, my dear cousin Lani brought over this perfectly framed house warming present:

The cats that are framed in that cat frame gift set look like our cat Oscar and the late, lamented Milo.  I wonder what photos will be framed in those frames in the future?

Here are the rest of the photos I framed with my iPhone yesterday.

Here‘s a photo of Lani I framed with my  iPhone over three years ago:

That’s Lani in the frame with her late, precious kitty, Jewel. As Lani and I framed many thoughts and feelings yesterday, she said she’s almost ready to consider getting another cat.  I framed a request that Lani include me in her search for a new kitty, when she’s ready.

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we talk about reframes, defined here.

Cognitive reframing is a psychological technique that consists of identifying and then disputing irrational or maladaptive thoughts. Reframing is a way of viewing and experiencing events, ideas, concepts and emotions to find more positive alternatives.

I’ve also experienced people reframing events, ideas, concepts, and emotions to find more negative alternatives.  In those cases, people might feel framed, like The Coasters describe in “Framed.”

I’m looking forward to the comments framed by my readers about this post.

Now it’s time for me to frame my thanks to all those who helped me frame this “Framed” post and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 2189: Who is it?

Who is it that just posted this on Facebook?

If it’s not me posting that I’ll be performing my latest original song “It’s Not Me” at the Jam’n Java Open Mic in Arlington’s Kickstand Cafe this Friday (January 4) while wearing my original t-shirt that says “It’s Not Me,” then who is it?

Who is it that just wrote another verse for “It’s Not Me”?

It’s not me who’s claiming

that our love was a sham.

It’s not me who’s blaming

all the things that I am.

© Ann Koplow, 2018

Who is it that took these photos yesterday?

Who is it that will be disappointed if people don’t laugh at the improv section of “It’s Not Me” Friday night?  And who is it that learned how to balance a salt shaker on its side at college?

Who is it that’s sharing this music, here and now?

Who is it who saw The Who at The Boston Garden in the 1970s?

Who is it that’s expressing thanks to all who helped me create this post (including my son Aaron and The Who) and to you — Whoo hoo! —  who’s reading it?

Day 2188: I’m very aware of the passage of time

I’m very aware of the passage of time, as I took time to express in a therapy group exercise about time.

Are you very aware of the passage of time?  Do you believe that you have all the time you need? Do you rush and get very anxious because of time? I’m very aware that the passage of time affects everybody.

I’m very aware of the passage of time in my other photos from yesterday.

I’m very aware that I notice more over the passage of time.  What do you notice, during this very precious time?

I’m very aware of the passage of time that’s bringing me closer to the first Friday of the month, which means it’s time for me sing a new original song at a local Open Mic.  I’m very aware that I need to choose between “Don’t Call Me” and “It’s Not Me.”

I’m very aware that I haven’t yet shared the lyrics of “It’s Not Me.” I will, after sharing this passage-of-time song:

I’m very aware of how much time passed before I found “Time Has Come Today” by the Chamber Brothers. Feel free to pass the time by sharing your favorite song about the passage of time, below.

Before any more passage of time, here are  lyrics for “It’s Not Me.”‘

It’s Not Me

by me, Ann Koplow

It’s not me resenting

the mistakes of the past.

It’s not me presenting

why our love shouldn’t last.

 

It’s not me who’s judging,

It’s not me keeping score.

It’s not me begrudging

Saying “you should do more.”

 

It’s not me who’s hurting,

It’s not me feeling bad.

It’s not me deserting

All the good things we’ve had.

 

It’s not me complaining

From dusk until dawn.

It IS me explaining

That it’s me, moving on.

© Ann Koplow, 2018

I’m very aware of the passage of time as I ask for comments and express my thanks to all  (including YOU!) who have helped me in my blogging passages, over time.

Day 2187: Be a hero.

“Be a hero” — a sign I saw yesterday —

reminds me of a post I wrote my second week of blogging, almost six years ago: Day 11: You might as well be the hero of your own story.

As you can see from the blog title and from the post itself, being a blogging hero, back then, meant using far more words and a lot fewer photos.

I guess being a hero changes as we grow, learn, and mature.

Be a hero, to me, and check out my other photos from yesterday.

Last night, Michael was being a hero by making our favorite vegetable lasagna for me and my son Aaron.

Because I’m feeling nostalgic today, here’s the first appearance of my hero Michael and his heroic lasagna in my blog (starting at 1:23).

Be a hero and please leave a comment, below.

Being a hero includes expressing appreciation and gratitude, so thanks to every hero who helped me create today’s blog and — of course! — to YOU, my heroes!

Day 2186: OMG!

OMG! It’s my first post with “OMG!” in the title!

OMG! It’s about time, because it’s my two thousand, one hundred, and eighty-sixth* consecutive post!

OMG! Here’s the inspiration for today’s post title!

OMG! It was Christmas yesterday and here are the rest of my OMG! It’s Christmas photos!

OMG! Did you get a good look at that cat ornament on Michael’s sister’s Christmas tree?

OMG!  Michael’s sister Lydia …

… loves to skate and loves Snoopy, so it makes sense that her husband Bob (who’s OMG! at the stove in that picture) gave her this OMG! Christmas present last year:

OMG!  Bob gave Lydia another skating Snoopy this year!

OMG!  I didn’t take a video of that one in motion.

OMG!  I’m looking forward to your comments.

OMG! I am so grateful to those who help me create all my OMG! blog posts and to you — OMG! — for reading them. And — OMG!  — I hope you had a Merry Christmas,  Catmas,

or whatever day you celebrated. OMG!

____________________________

*OMG! When I first published this I thought it was post #2222, but it’s never too late to correct your mistakes.

Day 2185: Taking note

On this Christmas Day, I’m taking note of  people I love.

On Christmas Eve, my son Aaron’s cousin, Victoria, took note of Aaron’s habit of taking notes about what he finds interesting and funny, turning those notes into stand-up comedy routines.  Take note of two of the gifts Victoria gave Aaron:

There’s Aaron, taking notes with the enormous pencil and tiny notebook that Victoria gave him. As usual, I’m wondering  about what notes he’s taking. I’m  taking note that people who love Aaron also gave him a scarf and “Leonardo da Vinci” by my classmate Walter Isaacson.

It’s time for taking note of the love  and joy in my other photos from Christmas Eve.

 

 

Because people I love are taking note that it’s time to recycle or die, our Yankee Swap last night was environmentally conscious. Take note of Victoria’s email to us about this:

This year it will be an environmentally conscious swap!

What this means is: 1. Gifts have to have some sort of positive impact on the environment 2. Gifts must be able to be used by everyone in some capacity 3. There is a $25 limit

As we all know the state of our climate is going downhill fast, so this is a good way to make a positive impact this Christmas.

Some examples of gifts are: reusable shopping bags, reusable produce bags, metal/paper straws, locally sourced honey, composting kits, non plastic wrap covers for leftovers, fair trade chocolate, etc.

I’m taking note, here and now, of all the environmentally conscious chocolate I got last night in the swap.

I’m also taking note of the notes on the socks I wore last night:

Now it’s time for taking note of how to play the notes of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” on a keyboard.

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Love and joy,

Ann

Day 2184: What’s going on

Yesterday, when I was going on with my son to buy last-minute Christmas presents and cat food,  this sign was going on inside the Fresh Pond PetSmart in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA:

What’s going on with you, dear readers?

Could it be the holidays?

What’s going on in my other photos from yesterday?

What’s going on as I end up this Christmas Eve post, with happiness about my almost six years of blogging about what’s going on?

Animals singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” ….

… and lots of gratitude to all who help me capture what’s going on in these daily posts and — of course! — YOU.

 

Day 2183: It’s What’s Inside That Counts

Yesterday, when Michael and I were inside a Target Store, counting the moments until  my son was going to arrive from inside the United Kingdom to inside Boston’s Logan Airport, I saw this inside the Target gift section:

Inside my mind, I counted several ways that “It’s What’s Inside That Counts” could count, counting on that to be the title of my next blog.

No matter what our appearance at whatever age, it’s what’s inside that counts.

No matter  what we’re wearing, it’s what’s inside that counts.

We may hide,

duck,

and pretend to be something we’re not, but it’s what’s inside that counts, so we might as well be honest.

Let’s see what counts inside the rest of my photos from yesterday.

It’s what’s inside Aaron’s room that counts — it’s Aaron! (And he’s majoring in mathematics —  does that count?)

I’m counting two songs titled “It’s What’s Inside That Counts” — one from Cinderella 2:

and this one from The Mighty Boosh:

It’s what’s inside that counts, so please leave your inside thoughts and feelings inside the comments section, below.

Countless thanks to all who help me create these posts and  to my readers, who — of course! — count.

Day 2182: What you have survived

Take a breath, in this present moment, and consider what you have survived.

How does that affect you?

When I look at what I have survived, I feel braver and more hopeful about what I’m facing now.

I have survived

• many holidays over my almost-66 years,
• two thousand, two hundred, and eighteen days of blogging,
• a congenital heart condition,
• many surgeries,
• sexism,
• anti-Semitism,
• the death of both my parents,
• other departures,
• fear,
• misunderstandings,
• miscommunications,
• personal comments (including being called “incapable“),
• silence,
• anger,
• rivalries,
• the dark,
• the cold,
• feeling lost,
• incompetent leaders, and
• lots of  crap.

What have you survived?

I assume we’ll all survive my recent photos.

Here‘s a reggae version of “I Will Survive.”

What helps me survive?  Gratitude, all those who help me create these daily blogs, and — of course! — YOU.