Day 3509: Works of art

Works of art

• have fascinated me since I was young,
• are proof of humanity’s potential,
• help make life worth living, and
• can be defined this way:

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Last night, I asked a question on Twitter about works of art.

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

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At first, I disliked how our dining room table top was so easily affected and transformed by heat, place mats, cats, and other aspects of daily living, but now I am choosing to see it as a work of art.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “works of art.”

Here’s a comment on that Art Insider “Cans Are Transformed Into Amazing Works Of Art” video:

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I look forward to your works of art comments, below.

Thanks to all who appreciate works of art, including YOU.

Day 3488: Taking up too much space

I don’t want to be taking up too much space here explaining that I — and many other women I know — sometimes worry about taking up too much space.

In order to let go of that worry, I’ve practiced taking up too much space at concerts, for example, momentarily stretching out like a cat or using my elbows to establish territory.

So I don’t mind if I’m taking up too much space sharing my images for today.

Because I’m using the Noom app to change my eating habits, cheesecake is not taking up too much space here these days. Narcissists, however, are always taking up too much space, no matter where they are.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “taking up too much space.”

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I also find this:

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Please don’t worry about taking up too much space in the comments section, below.

I don’t mind if I’m taking up too much space thanking all those who visit this blogspace, including YOU!

Day 3487: Ataraxy

Ataraxy, as I found out via email yesterday, means “a state of serene calmness.”

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Attaining ataraxy is difficult in today’s world, but do you find ataraxy in any of my images for today?

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I shall do my best attempting ataraxy on National Get Gnarly Day, because what else can I do?

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “ataraxy.”

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Maybe they didn’t get the email.

I’m hoping for ataraxy for all, including YOU.

Day 3486: Deciding to be happy

Today, I’m deciding to be happy.

I’m sure there’s research that proves that deciding to be happy helps people be happy, but I’m deciding to be happy about not looking up that research.

I’m deciding to be happy about all the images I’m sharing today.

I’m deciding to be happy if I eat cupcakes or milk chocolate today and I’m deciding to be happy that a kind person on Twitter responded thusly to my question “What’s a great sing-along song?”

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I’m deciding to be happy about sharing that song here.

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Are you deciding to comment on this deciding-to-be-happy post?

I’m deciding to be happy and grateful to YOU!

Day 3485: What’s the name of this post?

Every once in a while, I look at the images I want to share for the day, can’t decide what to name the blog post, and ask my readers for help.

I also have some trouble asking for help, so I sometimes say “no pressure” when I‘m doing that.

What’s the name of this post? (No pressure.)

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What’s the name of this post? It could be

• “No Pressure”
• “Pressure”
• “Light and Dark”
• “Making the Darkness Conscious”
• “Fears”
• “National Love is Kind Day”
• Anything you suggest, below.

Here are some pressure songs people on Twitter posted in response to my asking this question:

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What’s the name of this post? Another possibility is “Gratitude.”

Day 3484: What Helps

In my office at the hospital, I have two giant lists of What Helps.

What helps me is remembering facilitating therapy groups in that room years ago and continually adding to that list of “What Helps.”

What helps is to know that people in groups can be creative, supportive, and resilient despite trauma, losses, and diagnoses like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other “disorders.”

What helps in my other images for today?

What helps is knowing that I don’t have to pretend to give a shit (because I love my work so much).

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what helps.”

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Pema Chödrön definitely helps me. What helps you?

What also helps is expressing gratitude and appreciation, so thanks to all who help, including YOU.

Day 3483: National Thread The Needle Day

Today is National Thread The Needle Day! Here’s what the National Day Calendar website has to say about that:

Coincidentally, I recently threaded the needle to restore a ripped off tail to one of Joan’s favorite mouse toys.

I have to admit it took me a lot longer to literally thread the needle than in times past. I’m trying to metaphorically thread the needle between blaming this on my age or the tiny-holed needles in that sewing kit.

Thinking ahead to the mid-term elections, I hope my country can thread the needle between self-interest and justice for all. Otherwise, we’re all going to get stuck.

Should we thread the needle by finding a path through the rest of today’s post?

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“Thread the Needle” is also a song by Clarence Carter:

I’ll be threading the needle through traffic soon as I head downtown for my once-a-week in-person appearance at work.

Thanks to all who help me thread the needle every day, including YOU.

Day 3482: Introductions

The introduction to today’s post is going to be my random thoughts about introductions:

• I’m working on the introduction to the first book I’ve ever written — “How to Make Your Brain Shut Up.”
• My introduction of a new member into my Coping and Healing groups always includes inviting the other people to remember what it felt like when they were new to the group.
• When I was giving a talk about my groups and was asked what I wanted as an introduction, I replied, “Just say, this is Ann Koplow. She knows what she’s talking about.”
• Before the introduction in 2016 of a mechanical heart valve and the need to take Coumadin/Warfarin for the rest of my life, I was very anxious about the impact of those things, but now it’s all second nature to me.
• My husband Michael and I feared that the introduction of a new cat, Joan, would bother our old cat Harley, but after a brief introductory period of hissing and him adjusting to her, everybody’s fine.

Now that we’ve finished the introduction, do you see introductions in my images for today?

To celebrate National Cousins Day, I want to tell my cousin Lani (who’s being reading this blog since its introduction in 2013) how much I love and appreciate her. I’m looking forward to our introduction to Viking River cruises in May 2023.

Here are the two songs I think have especially great introductions:

I feel fine about ending this post about introductions with gratitude for all the wonderful people I’m been introduced to over the years, including YOU!

Day 3481: Iconic Duos

Last night, because I knew I was going to pose a question about iconic duos on Twitter, I asked my better half Michael to send me this photo of our iconic duo:

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Here’s the question about iconic duos I asked on Twitter.

Iconic answers to that Twitter question have included John Lennon & Paul McCartney, George Burns & Gracie Allen, Mel Brooks & Carl Reiner, Michelle & Barack Obama, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, Batman & Robin, and Peanut Butter & Jelly.

I’m realizing that my answer to a different question on Twitter is all about another iconic duo.

Here’s “Daulton Lee” by the iconic duo Pat Metheny and the late Lyle Mays, from the movie The Falcon and the Snowman.

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Do you see any iconic duos in my other images for today?

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Ice cream figures in several iconic duos, doesn’t it?

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “iconic duos.”

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Finally, here’s another iconic duo: Me & Gratitude for YOU!

Day 3480: Compelling

“Compelling” is how I would answer my own question on Twitter from last night.

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I am now compelled to share a definition of the word “compelling.”

I believe that the January 6 hearings are compelling and I hope others do too.

What are my most compelling images for today?

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I wonder which of those National Days people will find most compelling.

Here’s the song I was compelled to tweet about yesterday:

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I look forward to your compelling comments, below.

Compelling thanks to all who compel me to create this daily blog, including YOU.