Day 3346: Consciousness

Thanks to my friend and hairstylist, Mia, I’m reading this wonderful book about consciousness.

Michael A. Singer describes consciousness as “pure awareness” — the part of you that is observing your thoughts, emotions, and internal and external experiences.

Here’s a dictionary definition of “consciousness.”

I’m conscious of the fact that since I’ve started reading “The Untethered Soul,” I’m more in touch with my consciousness, calmness, clarity, and joy.

What does your consciousness tell you about the other images in today’s blog?

My consciousness is aware that there is a lot going on, outside of me and inside of me. And I can’t help but wonder about a day that seems to celebrate being unconscious in public spaces.

I’m working at home today without a break from 9 – 5, so I doubt I’ll be losing consciousness at my desk.

Here’s what I find when I search for “consciousness Michael A. Singer” on YouTube:

My consciousness is aware that I am not my thoughts, feelings, or this message on the side of a carton of sour cream:

Thanks to all who have consciousness here and now, including YOU!

Day 3345: What are the qualities of a good leader?

Last night, as I was thinking about leaders and leadership, I asked this question on Twitter.

I received many good answers, and a leading candidate for a good leader was this man:

My short list of qualities that make a good leader are passion, compassion, integrity, bravery, honesty, flexibility, clarity, and communication.

Do you see any of the qualities of a good leader in my images for today?

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Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what are the qualities of a good leader?”

I also find this:

What do you think are the qualities of a good leader?

I think the qualities of a good blogger include expressing gratitude to all their readers, including YOU.

Day 3344: FEAR is Forgetting Everything’s All Right

In a Coping and Healing Group this week, one of the members shared a very helpful phrase that a cherished friend had given her years ago:

FEAR is Forgetting Everything’s All Right.

People in the group, including me, had very strong, positive reactions to this gift the group member paid forward to us.

Since then, I’ve shared that gift with several people and the reaction has been the same: a pause and then an expression of gratitude.

As a habitual catastrophizer, who typically fears the worst case scenario no matter what the situation, I am finding this idea incredibly healing. And it’s helping me deal with

• my own fears,
• other people’s fears or other reactions,
• my work as a clinical social worker,
• relationships,
• our cat’s health issues,
• my health issues,
• home issues,
• money issues,
• preparing my taxes,
• uncertainties about the future,
• an over abundance of empathy, and
• the news.

If I have any fear about the images I’m about to share, then I’m Forgetting Everything’s All Right.

I have no fear about setting a good example, pistachios, or telling fairy tales, which are all right.

When I search YouTube for “fear is forgetting everything’s all right, I find this, which includes other acronyms for FEAR — False Evidence Appearing Real and Face Everything And Recover.

I have no fear about comments you might leave.

I’m not forgetting everything’s all right, nor my gratitude to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

Day 3343: Moments of inner peace

Yesterday, for the mindfulness exercise in both of my Coping and Healing groups, I invited people to access moments of inner peace. Then, last night, I asked this question on Twitter:

Somebody in group last night brought some moments of inner peace by sharing this: FEAR is Forgetting Everything is All Right.

It’s challenging to find moments of inner peace during times of conflict, stress, pandemics, injustice, and war. However, people somehow find those moments of inner peace through nature, meditation, music, animals, friends, family, self care, and love.

Can you find some moments of inner peace in my images for today?

Despite having an appointment to bring Harley to the vet today during a snowstorm, I’m still finding moments of inner peace.

This is what I find on YouTube when I search for “moments of inner peace.”

I also find this:

I look forward to moments of inner peace reading your comments.

I’m grateful for all my moments of inner peace and for YOU.

Day 3342: What is there to celebrate?

What is there to celebrate on a day like today, when Putin is invading Ukraine and some people in the USA are supporting him?

I celebrate every day that I’m above ground, and I’m celebrating that my cardiologist, Dr. Salem (who I saw yesterday for my yearly echocardiogram and checkup) expects that I’ll be celebrating many more days in the future.

Because I can hold more than one feeling, I am celebrating my good fortune while also feeling sadness, anger, and fear about the invasion of Ukraine and about other terrible situations in our shared, precious world.

Can you see anything to celebrate in my photos for today?

There’s always something to celebrate, even when our hearts are breaking.

This is what I find when I search for “what is there to celebrate?” on YouTube.

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I celebrate my connection to you and thank you for being here, now.

Day 3341: My son’s birthday

My son, Aaron, turns 24 today! He is in Europe with his girlfriend right now and we had this interaction earlier:

People who have been regular readers of this blog for years know that my son is creative, hilarious, smart, and honest. They also know that he gets along really well with his step-father Michael.

I have a tradition of including in my blog on Aaron’s birthday this YouTube video he made twelve years ago:

When Aaron reads my blog (which he’s told me he will after I’m gone from this earth), I imagine him rolling his eyes when he sees this. He made this sooooo long ago, and he’s done so many wonderful things since then. I’m a sucker for a tradition, I guess, and this video still cracks me up.

Here’s what I tweeted last night, on the eve of my only child’s birthday:

Aaron has given me many memorable words of wisdom and I can only hope I’ve done the same for him.

I remember this exchange when I was having a bad time:

Me: Is the universe conspiring against me?

Aaron: No.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought of this when life has been difficult. Aaron is a man of few words but all of them count.

Happy birthday to my son, happy banana bread day to all, and thanks for being here, now.

Day 3340: 2’s Day

Today is 2/22/22 (or 22/2/22, depending where you live). It’s a day with many 2’s, and it’s falling on a Tuesday (or 2’s Day, if I’m not being 2 punny). This is 2 exciting and 2, 2 rare!

I hope it’s not 2 much 2 ask that my images 2day feature 2’s, in honor of this 2, 2 special day.

Salmon with cous cous, a dish so nice they named it twice!

The National Days don’t recognize 2’s Day, but I’m not 2 concerned about that.

2day’s video features our 2 cats, Harley and Joan. I’m happy 2 report that my husband of 2 years, Michael, was able 2 capture the 2 of them wrestling, times 2! I hope this video doesn’t take 2 long 2 load.

It’s wonderful 2 see the 2 of them having 2 much fun. It’s a great distraction from the news, which can be 2 overwhelming, 2 be honest.

If you want 2 leave a comment about this 2’s Day post, you know what 2 do.

Thanks 2 you for sharing this 2’s Day with somebody who was born on 2/2 — 2, 2 grateful me. Hope 2 see you 2morrow!

Day 3339: Soulmates

Today’s post is inspired by The Daily Bitch, who is often a soulmate of mine:

You don’t have to worry about finding definitions on this blog, so here’s one for soulmate:

I like how that definition implies that you can have more than one soulmate, because I’ve had several in my long life. One thing I’ve had in common with all my soulmates: laughter.

Parade.com has many quotes about soulmates, including these:

Here’s a video that starts out with me talking to my soulmate Michael about the behaviors of our cats, who may or not be soulmates.

Do you see soulmates in any of my other images for today?

I wonder if Abraham Lincoln and I would have been soulmates.

Here’s “Soul Mates” by Grant Nicholas.

What are your thoughts and feelings about soulmates?

I am very grateful for all my soulmates and for you!

Day 3338: Chores

It’s no chore for me to blog every day and here’s a definition of “chore.”

My husband, Michael (who does almost all the chores around here) and I sometimes discuss what chores we dread. He dreads the chore of taking out the garbage and I dread the chores of being on call at work, doing our taxes, and testing my blood every other week because I take the anticoagulant Coumadin. We both dread the chore of taking either of our cats to the vet.

Last night, I asked this question on Twitter:

I phrased the question that way because a few people have let me know that they find my Twitter questions a chore. I look forward to reading all the answers to that question, which will be no chore at all.

My niece Julie McGrath has said this about chores: “Try changing I HAVE to do this to I GET to do this!” Using Julie’s advice, I’ll say this: I get to check my blood INR today!

I also get to share all these quotes about chores with you, plus other random images.

Today I get to celebrate National Love Your Pet Day, which is no chore at all.

If it’s no chore, please leave a comment below.

Now I get to express my thanks to all who get to do chores and who read my blog, including YOU!

Day 3337: Overwhelmed

I am sometimes overwhelmed by

• the news,
• work,
• responsibilities,
• other people’s pain,
• people’s responses to me on social media,
• worry,
• hope, and
• the human capability for cruelty and kindness.

Here are some quotes about feeling overwhelmed:

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I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with all those quotes or with my other images for today.

This shows the difference between the humility-arrogance scale and the insecurity-confidence scale, which an overwhelming number of people confuse. Confidence is not the same as arrogance, people!

I am momentarily overwhelmed by the coincidence that the Daily Bitch is doing her lashes on National Lash Day.

I am not overwhelmed by Joan interrupting me while I’m trying to blog.

I am overwhelmed by how cute and talented she is.

Finally, one more quote about feeling overwhelmed.