Day 2922: Personal Bests and Worsts of 2020

On the last day of each year, I put together my personal best and worst lists. In every other year, these have been Top 10 lists. For 2020, both my lists go to 11.

My son Aaron, my husband Michael, my Coping and Healing on-line therapy groups, blogging, my friends, the movie La Fée, surviving COVID, the Biden/Harris victory, walks by the ocean, and cats are on my 2020 best list.

Many deaths are on my 2020 worst list, including the COVID-caused death of a beloved patient, the death of my dear friend Eleanor, the death of my “heart brother” David (a wonderful man who had the same rare heart condition as me), and the death of our amazing kitty Oscar. Powerful and destructive narcissists (who shall remain nameless) are on my worst list, too.

Do you see any evidence of the Best and Worst of 2020 in today’s images?

2020 might be my best New Year’s Eve ever because tonight I’m facilitating a special NYE’s version of my Coping and Healing group!

Here’s my most-listened-to tune for 2020 (no matter what Spotify says!).

If you share some personal 2020 bests and/or worsts in the comments section below, that would be the best.

A happier 2021 and I personally thank you for making it through 2020!

Day 2921: Unexpected gifts

During a holiday season when we did not exchange any material gifts, there were still unexpected gifts, including delicious vegetarian manicotti and Christmas cookies from my ex-in-laws.

I also got some unexpected gifts mailed to me from work.

Here’s another unexpected gift: the bitcoin that I won from my wager on the results of the USA Presidential election has already increased by 26%! That is even more of a gift because when I collected my winnings recently from the online betting site I was agonizing over my unexpected inability to figure out how to convert bitcoin into cash. My husband Michael, who is always a gift to me, suggested I just keep the bitcoin and “have fun watching it.” Having fun with the unexpected is always a gift.

Do you see unexpected gifts in these recent images?

Another unexpected gift — I am no longer worrying about pissing people off. That’s because of the gift that keeps on giving: therapy.

When I search YouTube for “unexpected gifts” this comes up first:

Are there any unexpected gifts you would like to share in a comment below?

An expected gift at the end of each of my daily posts is the gift of gratitude, so thanks to all who contributed unexpected gifts today, including YOU!

Day 2920: Flash/No Flash

Every morning, I get a flash of inspiration about the title and the content of the day’s blog post. Often, that flash of inspiration comes from a photo I took the day before with no flash.

However, today’s flash of inspiration is this:

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That is a no-flash photo, taken by my flashily talented ex-husband, Leon Fairbanks, of our son Aaron.

I am now going to flash some definitions of “flash.”

This is how I use Flash in a sentence: Before I started writing this post, I had a Flash of terror (like Kirov) (see above) about Aaron flying on a plane next week to return to Scotland to complete his last semester at the University of Edinburgh.

News flash: Despite all our good intentions about being safe and doing the right things during this no-flash-in-the-pan pandemic, many of us are having flashes of terror.

All my photos today are taken with no flash.

That’s our flashy cat, Harley.

Here’s one of my favorite sing-along songs with flashy vocals: “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash.

If you flash a comment about this “Flash/No Flash” post, I’ll definitely flash a reply soon.

It’s time for today’s flashy finale: Thanks to my ex-husband Leon, our son Aaron, my second husband Michael, our cat Harley, Quarterflash, all the flashes of light around us, and those who help me flash my thoughts and feelings into the world every day, including YOU!

Day 2919: I’m so glad to see you!

Whenever people show up to my therapy groups, I say out loud, “I’m so glad to see you!”

This morning, when I looked at my bleary-eyed, almost-68-year-old self in the mirror, I said out loud, “I’m so glad to see you!”

I’m so glad to tell you how much that immediately improved my mood. I’m so glad to recommend you try that the next time you see yourself in the mirror.

I’m so glad to share with you these images that I was so glad to see yesterday.

I’m so glad to see the Daily Bitch and I’m so glad that I don’t see anything alarming under the bed these days.

Here is “So Glad to See You Here” by Paul McCartney and Wings with Rockestra:

I’m so glad to see so many rock stars in that video. How many can you see?

I’m so glad to see you! I hope you can see that here, every day.

Day 2918: NO

On the first anniversary of my NOtable husband Michael and I saying “YES” in marriage, I am publishing a NO post. Want to kNOw why?

As of this writing, our NOt-too-longer NOxious President has said NO to extending unemployment benefits to millions of people. He has said NO to people in need like NObody else I can remember. I’m so glad we said NO to a second term for him.

Do you NOtice any NOs (or sNOw) in today’s images?

There were NO likes on some of my tweets and NO cilantro on Michael’s Mexican lasagna, but NO worries, regrets, or judgment here.

When Michael and I got married a year ago today, we would have said “NO” if the justice of the peace had asked if we wanted a religious ceremony, but she did NOt ask.

It makes NO difference to me; I would NOt change a thing.

What are your thoughts, feelings, and other NOtions about this NO post? NOte that comments go below.

I’m left with NOthing but gratitude for all the NOurshing blessings in my life, including YOU!

Day 2917: Gifts

During a holiday season when we are not exchanging any material gifts, gifts still abound.

I especially appreciate these gifts:

• New leadership for the USA.
• Hope.
• Health.
• A home near the shore.
• Family.
• Friends.
• Faith in myself and in others I trust.
• My work as a group therapist.
• Time off.
• Time.
• Awareness.
• Acceptance.
• Thoughtfulness.
• Joy.
• All the feelings.
• Nourishment.
• Patience.
• Eagerness.
• Curiosity.
• Spontaneity.
• Practice.
• Stillness.
• Movement.
• Music.
• Laughs.
• Love.
• Living.

What gifts do you most appreciate, here and now?

Do you see gifts in today’s images?

I also appreciate the gifts of others.

The gifted blogger Maria left this gift in yesterday’s post, which I am happy to re-gift to you:

As usual, I end with the gift of gratitude, so thanks to you and all the gifts you bring.

Day 2916: Living

No matter what day or year it is, I am grateful to be living.

I’m so thankful that you and I are still living, on this Christmas Day 2020.

Do you see evidence of living in today’s images (presented in the order I was living them)?

I wish:

• sarcasm burned calories,
• you a Merry Christmas, and
• better days of living ahead.

Here’s Dierks Bentley with “Living.”

Here is “Carol of the Bells” (with cute cats) by The Living Tombstone.

What are your thoughts and feelings about this “Living” post?

Thanks to all who help me appreciate living every day, including YOU!

Day 2915: Giving and getting

This year, we are neither giving nor getting any material gifts, which feels like a gift to me.

Here are some quotes about giving and getting:

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Now it’s time to be giving you my latest photos and I hope you’ll be getting them.

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Now, on Christmas Eve 2020, I’ll be giving you a question and I hope to be getting some answers: Which of today’s photos best represent this year for you?

When I search YouTube for “giving and getting,” I’m getting this:

I’m also getting this:

If you’re giving the Olsen twins your attention, you’re getting that appreciation is love. As always, you’ll be getting both from me, here and now.

Day 2914: Religion

No matter what your opinions are about religion, ‘tis the season when religion is all around.

I have mixed feelings about religion. I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household and have observed many benefits of religion, including life-organizing traditions, strong family and social connections, important moral codes, explanations for troubling questions, and sustenance and comfort during darkest days. I’ve also observed, throughout my life, how many people have been hurt and divided by religion.

Whatever our religions are, I think we can agree that people have very strong feelings about religion. My son, who grew up with a lapsed Orthodox Jewish mother and a lapsed Roman Catholic father, once upset a librarian in the children’s room of our local library by asking her what her religion was. This was around the time when Aaron was formulating that God might be a giant goose and we had noticed children’s books about religion in the library that day, so I think he was just honestly curious about her experience. He and I were both taken aback by her obvious discomfort and annoyance, so I quietly explained to him that religion could be a sensitive subject for some people.

Yesterday, my son, my ex-husband Leon, my husband Michael, and I were discussing another sensitive subject — politics — trying to make sense of Trump’s appeal to millions of people, wondering if religion played a part in that, also.

Do you see religion in today’s images?

If you had to answer any questions about religion, would you choose to answer the ones included in this blog post?

When I search YouTube for “religion,” this comes up:

So does this:

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Colbert — despite their differences about religion — share a great gratitude for existence and so do I. Thanks to all who helped me create this post about religion, including YOU!

Day 2913: Darkest days

Yesterday was the darkest day in a year of darkest days.

Do you see darkest days in these images ?

Every year, I’m relieved when the darkest day of the Winter Solstice is behind me, because there are brighter days ahead from then on.

Here is Black Water County with “Darkest Days.”

What are your thoughts and feelings about darkest days?

Gratitude brightens even my darkest days, so thanks to all who help me blog each and every day, including YOU.