Day 2953: Join us on our mission!

I received this mission message yesterday on a bag of salty but relatively healthy snacks:

I didn’t read about their mission because I thought I was doing enough for their mission by buying and consuming their product. Also, I’m on vacation this week, so my mission is to relax, focus on self-care, and re-energize for my work as a group therapist during these difficult times.

So many people are asking me to join their mission these days, that I have to choose my missions wisely. For example, when I chose a birthday fundraiser on Facebook this year, I wasn’t sure which mission to join. There were so many worthy missions I considered, from racial justice, to environmental activism, to animal protection, and so on. I eventually joined the same mission I joined for my birthday fundraiser last year, Everytown for Gun Safety.

Join us on our mission to

• improve the world, one step at a time,
• focus on self-care, so you have the energy to engage,
• accept all feelings,
• set and maintain clear and healthy boundaries,
• let go of worry, guilt, shame, and harsh judgment, and
• observe and appreciate all you have.

Reply requested, and please listen to “Mission Impossible” while you consider choosing to accept the mission of joining us in the comments section, below.

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Join us on our mission to express gratitude and love, every day!

Day 2952: I got nothing, part 2

Yesterday, I wrote “I got nothing” and apparently there’s a lot more where that came from.

Today is the first day of my birthweek vacation, and I got nothing I have to do.

I got nothing but joy about that.

When Michael recently asked me what I wanted for my birthday (and nothing is cooler than having your birthday on Groundhog Day), I replied, “Nothing.”

When he asked me again, I said, “I got nothing but love for all things chocolate.”

Yesterday, I told him I got nothing when I look in the mirror at night, so could he please switch these bathroom lights for my birthday?

I got nothing but excitement about performing my new lyrics for “Jolene” at an open mic this Friday.

VACCINE (to the tune of “Jolene”)

by Ann Koplow

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine.

I’m beggin’ you please shoot it in my arm.

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine.

I need it to protect myself from harm.

Coronavirus everywhere, pandemic panic in the air

With masks and death and sanitizer too.

We’ve tried our best to quarantine to hide from COVID-19.

The vaccine is what we need to make it through.

© Ann Koplow, 2021

If you got nothing better to do this Friday, February 5, between 7 – 9 PM Eastern Standard Time, here’s the sign-up link to be in the audience to hear me sing those lyrics and more:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b4eadaa23a2f49-jamn20

I got nothing better to share than Dolly Parton singing her amazing song “Jolene.”

I got nothing but these other images to share today.

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I got nothing more to say than please comment, below, and thanks to all who help me make something out of nothing here every day, including YOU.

Day 2951: I got nothing

For the first time since I started blogging eight years ago, I feel like I got nothing today.

Maybe I feel like I got nothing because I’m

• tired,
• overwhelmed,
• sick of bullies, injustice, and conspiracy theories,
• done with the coronavirus (even though the coronavirus is not done with us), and
• having some reactions to my first vaccine, including soreness and fever.

I may feel like I got nothing but I got these images to share with you:

Even when I feel like I got nothing, I got a lot.

Darius Rucker performed “I Got Nothing” at the White House seven years ago, and that’s something.

Even if you feel like you got nothing, consider leaving something in the comments section, below.

I got nothing but gratitude for all who help me blog every day, including YOU.

Day 2950: One step closer

Just by starting this blog post, I’m one step closer to publishing it. I’m also one step closer to reaching a milestone: my three thousandth post!

Just by waking up, I’m one step closer to my birthweek vacation, starting in two days.

In therapy, people often talk about being one step closer to their personal goals. Yesterday, somebody said that identifying small and very achievable next steps really helped them move forward, which also brought them one step closer to self esteem.

Every day, we’re one step closer to overcoming this deadly pandemic and, I hope, overcoming social injustice, inhumanity, out-of-control greed, fear, anger, rampant misinformation, and short-sighted and self-centered partisanship. If we don’t take those vital steps forward, I believe we’re one step closer to mass destruction.

I’m one step closer to sharing my latest images but before I do, here’s a great live version of “One Step Closer” by the Doobie Brothers.

With every step we take, our shy cat Harley is one step closer to trusting me.

Are you one step closer to leaving a comment, below?

I’m one step closer to closing this post with gratitude, so thanks to all who take small, achievable steps to be closer to where they want to be, including YOU.

Day 2949: Messages to friends

Last night, my friends, as the friendly skies sent down messages of snowflakes, I heard “Message to My Friend” from friendly Pat Metheny and John Scofield.

Here is “Message to a Friend” from friends Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden:

Yesterday, in therapy, there were many messages to friends, including “I’m glad you showed up exactly the way you did,” “the pain of a loss is in direct proportion to the importance of the relationship,” “all your feelings are welcome,” “it’s never what you expect,” “all change is anxiety-provoking, even good changes, and especially changes we didn’t choose,” “there’s a huge difference between worry and planning,” “congratulations for not going completely bonkers,” and “what you’re doing is good enough AND you can make it better.”

Today, because of friendly messages I got from the hospital where I work, I’m getting my first vaccine for the coronavirus.

Here are more messages to friends:

I appreciate timely messages from my friend and yours, The Daily Bitch.

Feel free to leave messages to friends in the comments section, below.

All my messages to friends include gratitude, so thanks to all who help me create these daily messages to friends, including YOU.

Day 2948: What people are feeling

Because I’m a psychotherapist, I focus on what people are feeling. These days, people are feeling a lot of different feelings.

Some people are feeling better.

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Some people are feeling overwhelmed.

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Some people are feeling theoretical.

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Some people are feeling joyful.

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Some people are feeling scared.

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Some people are feeling the Bern.

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Some people are feeling minor losses.

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Many people are feeling major losses.

Some people are feeling nostalgic for the past.

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Some people are feeling inquisitive and playful.

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Some people are feeling bananas.

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Some people are feeling hungry.

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Some people are feeling happy.

I live with heart and my heart tells me that all people’s feelings are okay, even the ones we judge and sometimes disown, like anger, fear, and sadness.

This is what I find on YouTube when I search for “How People are Feeling.”

As I often ask in my therapy groups, “What are people feeling?”

As usual, I am feeling gratitude, so thanks to all the people with feelings who helped me create today’s post, including YOU!

Day 2947: Too nice?

Do you ever wonder if you are too nice? Especially in response to people who are not too nice?

I don’t think being too nice is the problem, these days. Personally, I think it’s nice when people are nice. Indeed, it’s nice to think about nice people being in charge for a while.

When people are the opposite of nice on Twitter, I think it’s very nice when somebody responds, “S/he seems nice.” It’s nice to have an all-purpose comeback like that about mean people. Often I’m too shocked (if not too nice) to know how to quickly and effectively respond to verbal abuse in the moment.

Of course, it’s important to respond to abuse. I just don’t think self doubt about being “too nice” (or “too anything”) helps us act and move forward.

Are any of my recent images too nice ?

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Is it too nice if I celebrate here in America with “America” from West Side Story?

It would be so nice if you share your thoughts and feelings, below, without worrying if you’re being too nice or not nice enough.

It’s impossible to be too grateful, so thanks to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

Day 2946: What gets your attention?

Now that I’ve gotten your attention with the title of today’s post, I’ll admit that toxic people and dangerous situations are getting my attention, here and now.

I find it difficult to pay attention to the positive when so many negatives — like injustice, climate change, the pandemic, and untrustworthy people with power — need attention.

Negatives naturally get our attention, including negatives about ourselves. We pay attention to the negative in order to attend to and solve problems.

However, ignoring the positives within and around us can distort our attention — keeping us overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and stressed. We need to balance our attention in order to more effectively attend to ourselves and others.

What gets your attention in my latest photos?

Good food and cats have been getting my attention for decades.

This is what got my attention during the America Celebrates Inauguration Day special:

If you leave a comment about what gets your attention, attention will be paid.

Finally, what gets my attention is gratitude, so thanks to all who help me attend to this daily blog, including YOU.

Day 2945: Rear view mirrors

Lately, I’ve been using a helpful image to leave behind and let go of toxic things in my life: I imagine them in the rear view mirror of my car, getting smaller as I drive away.

Donald Trump is in my rear view mirror. He’s also in Randy Rainbow’s rear view mirror, as we can see in “Seasons of Trump.”

Also in my rear view mirror are:

• perfectionism,
• fear,
• worry,
• shame, and
• assholes.

Soon I’ll be putting my fear about getting COVID-19 again in my rear view mirror, because I’m getting the vaccine on Wednesday!

I wonder what I’ll actually be seeing in my car’s rear view mirror as I drive to the Boston hospital where I work to get my shot.

Do you see any rear view mirrors in these photos?

Compassion will make you beautiful, no matter what mirror you’re using.

What, or who, would you like to put in your rear view mirror?

Thanks to all who helped me create this rear-view-mirrors post, including YOU.

Day 2944: The Love

I love seeing the love our new leaders have for each other, for my country, and for the world.

Do you see the love in my images today?

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Here’s “The Love” — a Joe Biden for President 2020 video from Jennifer Hudson and Black Eyed Peas.

I look forward to the love in the comments section, below.

Thanks to all who spread the love, including YOU.