My incredibly profound friend Deb, who is social distancing in Florida, sent me this text yesterday:
I found it incredibly profound that Deb sent me that photo of her wearing her “Left the house before I felt ready” tee, which I created after publishing Day 166: The Year of Living Non-Judgmentally Merchandise: T-Shirts.
Is it incredibly profound that I texted back “That’s going in the blog tomorrow. If I had any energy I would market it”?
It’s incredibly profound that
- we’re all experiencing this coronavirus pandemic together,
- there are so many unknowns about the virus,
- the news is frightening, and
- nobody knows what the future will be.
Are any of these other images incredibly profound?
.
Is it incredibly profound that I wrote this song based on the t-shirt Deb is wearing?
.
I LEFT THE HOUSE BEFORE I FELT READY
I left the house before I felt ready.
I’m wrinkled, distracted, a little bed-heady.
Don’t know where my phone is, one glove, or umbrella.
My water bottle’s probably somewhere in the cellah.
Here on the outside I’m sort of unsteady
When I’ve left the house before I felt ready.
I left the house before I felt certain
What clothes to wear, should I tuck my shirt in?
Should I eat a banana, a cookie, a peach?
Do something productive or go to the beach?
With indecision I’m strugglin’ and hurtin’
Because I left the house before I felt certain.
I left the house before I was sure
Of what I could tolerate, face, or endure.
Should I stick to what’s safe or try something new?
Taking risks — tsk tsk tsk — not the right thing to do?
I might meet someone sweet or step into manure
If I’ve left the house before I felt sure.
I have left the house, I can recall,
To work, to sing, to shop at the mall.
If I waited until I was sure not to fall
I’d never leave the house at all!
I left the house before I felt ready,
I’m vulnerable, present, and reasonably steady.
I’m glad to be here even if it’s not home.
Even if my hair needs a brush or a comb.
I’m not totally sure or secure, this it true.
But I’m certain I’m ready enough to meet you.
© Ann Koplow, 2018
I look forward to your incredibly profound comments about this blog post. Even if you don’t think your thoughts and feelings are incredibly profound, I do.
Incredibly profound thanks to all who help me create these daily blog posts, including YOU.
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
Ann, if you could produce a bunch, get these T-shirts in the hands of Fallon, Kimmel and Colbert for their late night shows and have a way to sell online, you’d have a bunch of sales on your hands.
I am so incredibly and profoundly exhausted doing five on-line therapy groups every week, responding remotely to COVID-19 related crises at the hospital where I work, and finishing out my presidency of my group therapy organization, that I can’t imagine taking this on right now, although I profoundly wish I could! Thanks for another incredibly profound comment, my friend.
I think your plate is full, Ann.
I love your incredibly profound song! ღƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ♡ƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ♪
I love your incredibly profound kindness and support!
（*’∀’人）♥
How many people, I wonder, will be forced to do that?
The number will be incredibly profound, I believe.
love the tee, love your song. good marketing suggestion, mark. I’d buy one and wear it with profound pride.
The love is incredibly and profoundly energizing, my friend. Thank you.
Oh no – the last Ferrero Rocher. Beautiful photos, food, music. Splendid! The all-encompassing post!
Thank you for this incredibly beautiful and splendid comment, Sam, which profoundly affects me.
I find it profound that there may be a reference to Eliot’s “Do I dare to eat a peach?” in your song and just as profound if it’s not.
There is, my incredibly profound friend.
I find your landscapes photos incredibly profound and beautiful. I also like the words to your song. Have a nice day, Ann
Thank you for another profoundly beautiful and supportive comment!
Oh my, your song is soooo delightful! I had to play it twice so I could sing along (an octave lower, I’m afraid… I USED to be a soprano!). This brought such a smile to my fae. Your rhyming is so creative! Who else woulda thunk of “certain and shirt in”?? This is worthy of a reblog. I love it, Ann! ❤
Thank YOU, my profoundly delightful, creative, lovely, and supportive friend.
God bless you! Have a Super Sunday! ♥️
Love the cat meme and the song! You have such creativity, Ann.
Thank you for this lovely comment, Gigi, and I believe it takes one creative person to know another one.
P.S. I put it on my Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/janbeekman
I don’t see it there, Jan, but your Facebook page is still incredibly profound!
Thank you. I will send a link to you.
Excellent post. I felt like that a couple of days ago when I went grocery shopping with my mask on. That’s a first. Kind of how you feel when you walk into a room of strangers and you realize it’s not a costume party! I’ll keep the lyrics posted on my fridge. Thanks Ann
I find it incredibly profound that you’re posting my lyrics on your fridge. Thank you, my excellent friend.
I can declare with profundity that I love the song!
Thank you, my incredibly profound and pondering friend!
Great song indeed, things are different but unless you leave your house you maynot notice
Great observation, Jo-Anne.
The line “If I waited until I was sure not to fall, I’d never leave the house at all” really hit me. That is where I am right now. I am comfortable here indoors and realize that when it all opens up again I will be a bit disappointed. I am very content right now.
I am very content and comfortable with your incredibly profound comment.
I think that you also stayed at home before you felt ready. 😊
I think that your amazingly profound comment inspired me to write another verse for this song before I felt ready. See the post following this one, my amazingly profound friend.
Love that cat meme, Ann! Profoundly grateful for your song, which so cleverly captures the angst I think many of us are experiencing about the thought of venturing out into the world again. My home has always been my haven, but now it is truly my fortress and I am loathe to leave. I have noticed lately that I feel deep anxiety when I see people clumped together on television in what used to be a normal setting, e.g., a bar, a restaurant, a concert. Wondering how long it will take to shake that feeling, if we ever truly do?
I profoundly love and appreciate your comment, Lori, and I relate to all your profoundly expressed feelings.
Pingback: Day 2709: Messages of Encouragement | The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally
The link to my FB page where I posted from this site is: https://www.facebook.com/jan.beekman
I still don’t see the connection with this site or my song. Where would it be on your Facebook page? Thanks, Jan!
Can’t click “like” – where’s the “sad” button when I need it? When I go to my FB page, that post is the #2 one on the site. I don’t know why it is not visible to you. Sorry!
Hi Ann — I write for the Deseret News, a daily newspaper in Salt Lake City, and I’m working on an article about pandemic-related T-shirts. I would love to speak to your friend in the shirt and wonder if you could put me in touch with her. She can reach me at Jgraham@deseretnews.com Thank you, great post! Jennifer Graham
That is my t-shirt that I created that I’ve also given to friends, Jennifer, so you are already in touch with the right person !
Pingback: Day 2792: Emotion recollected in tranquility | The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally