While I’ve already written several previous blog posts with “Leave” in the title (here, here, here, here, and here), I couldn’t leave well enough alone, mostly because
Because I don’t like to leave everything up to chance, I asked my son — who is leaving soon for India and then Edinburgh — to help me create a relevant image for today’s post.
If you don’t like posts with lots of photos, you should leave now. If you don’t leave, you might notice that many of yesterday’s photos have to do with today’s title, in one way or another.
When I think a meeting is bullshit, I want to leave.
Now that we’ve found our new home by the sea, I never want to leave.
My son Aaron will soon be leaving on a jet plane.
Batman probably wants to leave the cat shelter as soon as possible.
Because I need to leave the house soon, I’ll leave it up to you to notice the connections with “leave” in the rest of my photos.
I wonder how many readers will leave this post before all the photos load?
Before I leave my blogging for the day, I want to leave thanks for all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — for YOU.
Comparisons.
We compare ourselves to others, with ourselves coming out short. For example, “I’m not as smart (or good, competent, good-looking, lovable, etc.) as that other person.” Or, we compare ourselves to how we think we should be, or how we’ve been before. We might think that comparisons help motivate us, but they usually make us feel worse.
Yesterday, in a therapy group, we focused on comparisons.
I believe the human mind is built to make comparisons, in order to make meaning of what’s around us. However, when we compare ourselves to others, the resulting blows to our self-confidence and self-esteem can be beyond compare.
I’ve been making a different type of comparison lately. I compare the blog posts I’ve written after and before the November 2016 USA presidential election and I see differences. Less joy. Less hope. Less confidence in the future. Less faith in humans to be respectful and kind.
Some might compare me to a snowflake. Personally, I don’t mind being compared to a snowflake — each one is beautiful, intricate, and unique.
Let’s see how the rest of my photos compare to the one I’ve included above.
When I search YouTube for “comparisons,” most of the results have to do with money and wealth — not particularly useful comparisons.
If we don’t realize all animals are beyond compare, we will continue to lose more and more to extinction. Here’s a video showing comparisons of animal size:
The most recent comment on that video includes this: “Fake news.” I now compare my life to how it was before I heard that phrase so frequently.
Here are new lyrics for “I Can’t See Clearly Now””
I can’t see clearly now
There’s darkness here.
So many obstacles in our way.
It seems like everyone is acting blind.
When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?
When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?
I hope we can make it now
The pain is here.
All of these bad feelings have reappeared
Where is the rainbow I’ve been praying for?
When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?
Look all around, I don’t see blue skies.
Look straight ahead, I’m sighing some blue sighs.
I can’t see clearly now
There’s darkness there.
So many obstacles in our way.
Where are the the people so humane and kind?
When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?
When’s the next bright (bright) bright (bright) sun-shiney day?
Can you see clearly, now, my other photos for today?
Even though there’s not much left to take from that kristindudish.com heart, there’s still inspiration there. Let’s take what we need wherever we can find it.
