Day 3318: National Backward Day

Today is National Backward Day, among other things.

If you want more information about Backward Day you can find it here.

If you’re reading that excerpt backward, you’ll immediately notice Leonardo da Vinci. Coincidentally, when I opened a box labeled “misc utility” yesterday …

… I found this:

Maybe I’ll read that book backward today.

Usually I bend over backward to meet other people’s needs. Perhaps today, I’ll stand up straight and concentrate more on my own self-care. Feel free to join me in focusing more on your own needs for Backward Day.

Do you see anything backward in my other images for today?

In the answers to my Time Travel question on Twitter last night, a huge majority of people would prefer to travel backward in time.

Let’s go backward in time to see James Corden mention “National Backward Day.”

I’m going further backward in time to remember this scene from Top Secret:

Maybe I’m rewatch Top Secret in honor of National Backward Day. How are you going to celebrate National Backward Day?

Backward thanks to all who visit this blog, including YOU!

Day 3317: Whatever it is, you’re not alone.

You’re not alone in

• reading this blog,
• dealing with the pandemic,
• weathering storms,
• experiencing emotional and/or physical pain,
• being mortal,
• experiencing happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and all your other feelings.

You’re not alone in seeing my images for today.

You’re not alone if you’re wanting a croissant, an escape, non-violence and peace right now.

Here’s “You’re Not Alone” by Saosin.

You’re not alone if you have thoughts and feelings about this post you’d like to express in the comments section, below.

And finally, you’re not alone in being grateful that there are wonderful people out there like YOU.

Day 3316: Shortages

In the supermarket near Boston where we shop, I’ve been noticing growing shortages of canned cat food. Not shortages of dry cat food or dog food, but empty shelves for Fancy Feast and non-fancy wet food, too.

I’ve been ordering our cat food through Chewy.com and there are some shortages there too, resulting in our Purina Pro Plan order for Joan being cancelled. I ordered other canned cat food yesterday, and that’s on the way.

Shortages are puzzling to me and I certainly wouldn’t want to contribute to panic buying in any way, but I was curious about other people’s experiences, so I posted this on Twitter yesterday:

Some people responded YES, others NO, and some shared they had heard the shortage was caused by a shortage of aluminum cans.

Because there is a raging snowstorm as I’m writing this, I’m assuming there are other shortages — of milk, bread, eggs, shovels, flashlights, etc. — in the markets here now.

In the article that I just linked to above (https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/amp/30367460/why-ma-snowstorms-spark-a-run-on-milk-bread-and-eggs-only-in-ma), I discovered the interesting trivia that shortages of milk, bread, and eggs before snowstorms are specific to Massachusetts! Because I’ve had a shortage of pre-snowstorm shopping experiences anywhere else, I assumed there were panic runs on those items elsewhere, too.

When you visit this blog, I promise there will be no shortages of things to see, so here are more images for today.

Well, I did say shortages were puzzling to me, so Happy National Puzzle Day!

Here’s a short video of what’s causing the shortages of bread, milk, and eggs locally:

As you can see, there are no shortages of wind, snow, and waves outside my window.

There is no shortage of videos about shortages on YouTube, so I’m choosing to share this video instead:

No shortages of gratitude at the Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally blog, so abundant thanks to all who visit here, including YOU!

Day 3315: Promises

Just now, I noticed that the Bidens have fulfilled one of their campaign promises from last year.

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The New York Times, which promises “all the news that’s fit to print,” is all over that story, too.

This promises more uplifting news stories ahead for all us cat lovers.

I promise more uplifting images in today’s blog.

I promise that the label “weird” often comes up in my therapy groups, and it’s promising that people usually embrace the label “weird” in a promisingly positive and productive way.

I promise to check YouTube for a good song for this “Promises” blog.

I promise you that “Promises, Promises” has been running through my head since I started creating this post.

If you leave a comment below, I promise to respond very soon.

A promise I make and keep is to express gratitude to those who help me fulfill the promise of each new precious day, including YOU!

Day 3314: Inspirational Stories

Last night, I asked this question on Twitter:

Based on people’s responses to my question about inspirational stories, I’ve ordered the books I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven, Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller, and Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trial of American Democracy, by Jamie Raskin. I’m looking forward to reading those inspirational and, I’m sure, difficult stories.

Do you see any inspirational stories in my other images for today?

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On National Chocolate Cake Day, here‘s what I find when I search YouTube for “Inspirational Stories.”

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I’m sure I will be inspired by any comments or stories you share, below.

Thanks to all who inspire me to blog every day, including YOU.

Day 3313: What’s really on my mind

I like to express what’s really on my mind, and I’m so grateful I get to do that here, every day.

What’s really on my mind today is

• the state of the world,
• the state of the nation,
• the state of the state,
• people’s mental health,
• people not getting back to me,
• my birthday a week from today, and
• bringing our very shy and anxious cat Harley to the vet this afternoon.

Harley is so shy and anxious that we’ve only had home-visiting vets treating him since we adopted him seven years ago. What’s really on my mind about Harley is that

• the first vet who did that called him “a very fretful fellow”,
• he got so scared the last time Michael tried to put him in the carrier that he gouged Michael’s arm with his claws,
• he needs to see a full-service vet because he’s getting up there in age (like me!),
• he had a mysterious ailment last week that seems to have disappeared,
• Michael considered using the “towel technique” to capture Harley and deposit him in the carrier,
• it was really on our minds last night so we discussed it many times, and
• Michael discovered, much to our amazement, that Harley will go into the carrier if he puts his favorite treat in there.

What’s really on my mind right now is something Michael says a lot: “It’s never what you expect.”

What’s really on my mind is to share my images for today.

What’s really on my mind, here and now, is that I have a great spouse in Michael and that tomorrow is National Chocolate Cake Day.

This comes up when I search YouTube for “what’s really on my mind”:

What’s really on my mind is to express gratitude to my spouse Michael, to the Incredible Mr T, and to all those who help me blog every day, including YOU.

Day 3312: People’s responses

In the past, I’ve sometimes been hesitant to say or do something for fear of people’s responses. The responses I’ve feared have included:

• anger,
• disinterest,
• new upsetting information,
• misunderstandings,
• hurt feelings,
• needless worry,
• judgment,
• more work for me,
• disconnection, and
• no response at all.

I continually work on the courage to say and do what’s important without fear of people’s responses.

I wonder what people’s responses will be to today’s images:

I wonder what people’s responses will be to today’s National Days? And I assume that people’s responses to Michael’s first attempt at banana bread would be similar to mine: “OMG! This is so delicious!”

This is the first thing that pops up on YouTube when I search for “people’s responses”:

It helps me to know about other people’s responses to non-responsiveness.

No matter what people’s responses are, I’m grateful for you, every day!

Day 3311: Random

Since there are so many random ways I could start this blog post, why not with a definition of “random”?

My random thoughts about that definition include: (1) “randoms” are also known as “randos” and (2) I’ve been spending a lot of time with some random guys (and gals) on Twitter.

Now it’s time for some random images!

Netflix recommendations can seem very random.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “random”:

Here’s a random comment on that video:

I’m looking forward to your random comments on this random post.

Random thanks to all who read my random blog, including YOU!

Day 3310: Funny feelings

I’ve got a funny feeling that my images today are about “funny,” “feelings,” or both.

I’ve got a funny feeling that if you click on that screen shot to get free or discounted pies, it’s not going to work. Here’s the link to do that if you have feelings about pies:

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pie-day-january-23/

I have a funny feeling that Joan wants to play.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “funny feelings”:

I have a funny feeling that there will be some funny comments on today’s blog.

One feeling I always have is gratitude, so thanks to all who help me post every day, including YOU.

Day 3309: How to express empathy

How do you express empathy? With spoken words? Written words? Facial expressions? Hugs? Other non-verbal communication?

Where do you express empathy? In person? On the phone? In ZOOM gatherings? On social media?

To whom do you express empathy? To family members? Friends? Acquaintances? Strangers?

Sometimes I’m not sure how to express empathy, but I know I feel it every day.

Do you see how to express empathy in any of my images for today?

If you comment, I will do my best to express empathy in my response.

Thanks for all who feel and express empathy, including YOU.