Day 2572: My readers

Yesterday, one of my readers (my bass-playing dentist Dr. Del Castillo) sent me this “for your blog”:

 

Speaking of mugging, another one of my readers (my long-time friend Deb) sent me this wedding gift, which arrived yesterday:

 

What do my readers understand about my other photos for today?

 

 

 

 

 

Those last two photos are for my readers who like dogs.

I believe it would help my readers to change this very unhelpful thought …

… to these thoughts instead:

Another one of my readers sent me this, hoping it would help people:

 

I hope my readers will enjoy what I’m listening to, right now.

 

I don’t know what I would do without my readers, including YOU.

Day 2327: Gifts

Yesterday, my life-long friend Barbara and I met for lunch and we gave each other gifts.  Those gifts included lunch, sunglasses,  great conversation, praise, appreciation, support, validation,  honesty,  hugs, and acknowledgements of the importance of our friendship.

I now offer you the gifts of the photos from yesterday:

 

 

Michael, who is a gift to me, gave the board members of the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy the gift of those strombolis last night.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten?  What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?

I’m also going to offer my readers the gift of a guessing game.  The photos, above,  show my Mother’s Day gift from a family member.  You can give me the gift of your guesses in the comments section, below.

As I look forward to the gift of another day on this earth, here‘s the “Simple Gifts” section from Aaron Copland‘s Appalachian Spring, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

I end each post with the gift of gratitude.  Many thanks to all who helped me create today’s blog and — of course! — to you, my readers (who are always a gift to me).

Day 177: What gets me up in the morning

#1: Gratitude that I have another day.

#2: Belief that my work — and my existence, in general — have some value.

#3: Anxiety, because I work at a hospital, which reminds me of scary stuff I experienced as a kid.

#4: Remembering that I will see people I love today.

#5: Habit, because I’ve been waking up, after sleeping, for 60 years.

#6: The alarm, which is always a piece of music I choose and then use for a period of time. This is the one that I’ve been hearing lately:

(That version fades out at the end, but that seems right, because I never listen to the whole thing when I wake up.)

I’m glad all those musicians — and Aaron Copland — got up in the morning, too. (No matter what time they got up, it was morning somewhere.)

And, of course, I’m grateful to you, whatever time it is when you’re reading.