Day 3542: Surprising

It’s not surprising to regular readers of this blog that I’m starting out this post with a definition of “surprising.”

It’s surprising to me how limited that definition is, so here is a definition of “surprise”:

The bell-ringing part of that definition is surprising to me — who knew bell-ringing has its own nomenclature?

It’s surprising to me how insecure I can be about whether I’m using the right word, like “nomenclature.”

Phew! I was surprisingly accurate.

All of these things are surprising to me, here and now:

• Using three definitions in one blog post (a personal record for me),
• The people who are testifying against Trump in the hearings about the January 6 USA insurrection,
• How many people are not using the word “insurrection,”
• How people seem so sure that the Republicans are going to take the House and/or the Senate in the November 2022 midterm elections, and
• That people here are so appreciative of the photos and images I share.

Do you see anything surprising in today’s images?

.

There’s often something surprising in the list of National Days, don’t you think?

This is the first thing that comes up on YouTube when I search for “surprising”:

I wonder what will be surprising in the comments section, below.

Surprising thanks to all my surprising readers, including YOU!

Day 3530: Keeping Up

I’m having trouble keeping up with many things these days, including

• changes in technology,
• the news, and
• responding to all the wonderful people who engage with me through social media (here and on Twitter).

Let’s see if I’m keeping up with the latest definition of “keeping up.”

Keeping up with the first definition and with my role as a psychotherapist, I keep telling people not to keep comparing themselves with others, because that keeps them feeling bad about themselves. If you want to keep up with definitions of comparisons and other cognitive distortions (which I keep calling “automatic and unhelpful thoughts), I’m keeping those definitions here.

I’m keeping up with blogging every day by sharing my thoughts, my feelings, and the photos and other captured images I’m keeping up on my phone (which may explain why my phone is slowing down and having trouble keeping up with me these days) (but that’s not keeping me up at night).

Do you see keeping up in my images for today?

Today I’ll be keeping up with the National Days by seeking out my favorite flavor of ice cream, Rocky Road. Keeping up with National Leave the Office Early Day is challenging, since Thursdays I work late until 8, but I’m working from home (which I keep doing, except for Mondays, when I’m keeping up with work at the hospital).

Keeping up with the theme of irresistible dance music, here’s “Everybody Walk the Dinosaur” by Was (Not Was).

If you comment below, I’ll try keeping up with you by answering as soon as I can.

I’m keeping up with my tradition of taking photos of thank you’s so I can express my gratitude every day for all those who are keeping up with me, including YOU.

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 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 3328: Ideaphoria

In the 1980’s, when I was trying to find a career that was a good match for my abilities and interests, I took a series of aptitude tests at Johnson O’Connor and discovered that I scored very high in ideaphoria. Do you have any idea what ideaphoria means?

Do you see the capacity for creative thought or imagination in the images for today?

The people who create all those the National Days and the Daily Bitch Calendar seem to have ideaphoria.

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

I also find this:

Do you have any ideas about this ideaphoria post? If so, feel free to express your ideas in the comments section, below.

I also have gratitudephoria, so many thanks to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU!

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 3283: Appetites

As I look at my images for today, “appetites” seems like the best topic, so let’s start out with a definition.

.

I hope you have an appetite for quotes about appetites.

.

What appetites can you see in my images for today?

I think it’s funny that my husband Michael and I are celebrating our second wedding anniversary on National Fruitcake day. Does anybody have an appetite for fruitcake?

When I search YouTube for “appetites” I find this:

As I often tell people who struggle with overeating, our appetites are programmed to eat all the sweets and fats in our immediate vicinity. Those appetites allowed our ancestors to survive when fats and sugars were in short supply. These days, the best way to deal with insatiable appetites for junk food is to get it out of your home.

I have an insatiable appetite for your comments, so please leave one below.

I hope you have appetites for gratitude, because here are many thanks coming from me to you.

Day 3269: Do you want to have a conversation?

Yesterday, I asked our talkative cat Joan, “Do you want to have a conversation?”

According to the definition …

… maybe “conversation” is the wrong word. However, I seem to be having conversations with many non-people these days, including conversations like these:

Do you want to have a conversation about what it’s like to have those kinds of conversations for months and months? Or do you want to have a conversation about my other images for today?

Do you want to have a conversation about the conversation that the Daily Bitch is describing today? Or do you want to have a conversation about the Stephen Sondheim song I quoted in my Twitter conversation?

I love the way that Audra McDonald, Christine Baranski, and Meryl Streep are having conversations with each other and with Stephen Sondheim during his 90th birthday celebration in 2020.

Do you want to have a conversation with other people in this blog? If so, please leave a comment, below.

Do you want to have a conversation about gratitude? I do! Thanks to all who are reading this conversational blog post, including YOU.

Day 3247: Harmony

I notice that “harmony” is a common theme in my images for today.

In harmony, several people on Twitter said they could listen to “Nessun Dorma” over and over again.

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

Thanks to all who bring some measure of harmony into this often dissonant world, including YOU!

Day 3246: Perspective

Let’s get some perspective, here and now, by starting off with a definition of “perspective.”

Last night — when my son Aaron, my husband Michael, and I returned to an old, familiar haunt of ours with new perspectives — I made sure to take photos of a mural that has very unusual perspective.

I have such fond memories of seeing that mural from the perspective of our much younger selves. Last night, Michael and Aaron remarked that these two …

… evoked Michael and his twin brother.

My perspective is that I love that mural and everyone observing it last night. And Wild Willie’s Burgers has a new perspective since we were last there: they now offer more vegetarian options.

What perspective do you bring to my other images for today?

Because that list has a USA National Perspective, it doesn’t mention that today is also International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

I find the perspective of Alan Watts when I search YouTube for “perspective.”

Please express your perspective in the comments section, below.

From my perspective, I am grateful for all perspectives, including yours!