Day 3119: What is your earliest memory?

Last night, I asked the question “What is your earliest memory?” in my Coping and Healing group. People said they found that very helpful. So, after the group, I asked the same question on Twitter.

My earliest memory is from before I was walking. I was outdoors and my sister was lying on the ground next to me. I remember wondering: “Why is she doing that? She can walk!” That memory stayed with me because my parents were posing us for a photo, and I kept seeing the photo of the two of us in the family album.

Even back then, I was asking questions.

Here are some of my not-so-early memories, captured in photos:

The Daily Bitch is very memorable.

One of my earliest memories of music is of my father listening — on a very old radio — to “Witchcraft” sung by Frank Sinatra.

Now I’m asking you: What is your earliest memory?

Thanks to all who have memories and to those who ask questions and answer them, including YOU!

Day 3004: Learning the hard way

Do you see examples of learning the hard way in today’s images?

We seem to be learning the hard way about gun violence and common sense gun laws in the USA.

There is some learning the hard way in “The Gun Song” from Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins.

Thanks to all who helped me create this “Learning the Hard Way” post, as we all keep learning the hard way together.

Day 2969: The answer

People are often looking for the answer. In order to know what the answer is, we probably need to know what the question is.

Is the answer in today’s Daily Bitch calendar?

Is the answer on Twitter?

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Is the answer in the photos I took yesterday?

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Is the answer in the video featured in this tweet?

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Is the answer in other videos posted by The Dodo, like this one …

… or this one?

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Is the answer in the comments section, below?

Is the answer in expressing gratitude, here and now?

Day 2965: Not Freaking Out

In my Coping and Healing groups yesterday, we talked about not freaking out.

I wrote and shared a poem:

I am also not freaking out by capturing and sharing images.

As I asked on Twitter this morning, who’s freaking out? And if you’re not freaking out, how are you doing that?

I’m not freaking out by blogging and expressing gratitude here, every day.

Day 2955: Groundhog Day 2021

Well, faithful blog readers, today is my 68th birthday and the best gift for me is that we’re all still here.

I am celebrating this incredible feat of mutual survival, here and now, by sharing my latest images.

The Daily Bitch Calendar does it again, because later today Michael and I (and maybe Mr. Harley) will be dancing.

I just searched “Happy birthday Groundhog Day” and found this from a few years back in Punxsutawney:

Thanks to all who help me celebrate this day and every day, including YOU.

Day 2948: What people are feeling

Because I’m a psychotherapist, I focus on what people are feeling. These days, people are feeling a lot of different feelings.

Some people are feeling better.

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Some people are feeling overwhelmed.

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Some people are feeling theoretical.

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Some people are feeling joyful.

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Some people are feeling scared.

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Some people are feeling the Bern.

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Some people are feeling minor losses.

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Many people are feeling major losses.

Some people are feeling nostalgic for the past.

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Some people are feeling inquisitive and playful.

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Some people are feeling bananas.

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Some people are feeling hungry.

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Some people are feeling happy.

I live with heart and my heart tells me that all people’s feelings are okay, even the ones we judge and sometimes disown, like anger, fear, and sadness.

This is what I find on YouTube when I search for “How People are Feeling.”

As I often ask in my therapy groups, “What are people feeling?”

As usual, I am feeling gratitude, so thanks to all the people with feelings who helped me create today’s post, including YOU!

Day 2942: Let the healing begin

I believe that, after years of wounds, cruelty, injustice, and outrageous actions, my country may start healing today.

Let the healing begin.

Do you see any healing beginning in my latest images?

Let the healing begin in this memorial to COVID-19 victims from my nation’s Capitol, last night.

Let the healing begin in the comments section, below.

Thanks to all who let the healing begin, including YOU.

Day 2934: Where things are

Am I alone in trying to figure out where things are?

Where are things in my most recent images?

Because of where things are in my country, I’m considering hiding under the car.

Where did I find “Where the Wild Things Are”?

Where do you think things are, here and now?

No matter where things are, I am grateful for you, exactly where you are.

Day 2842: I’m mad about ___

Because I’m mad about so many things right now, I’m going to perform “I’m Mad About You” — which I wrote when I was mad about the last U.S. Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings — at a remote Open Mic this Friday, October 16, 7 PM – 9 PM, EDT.

Because I’m mad about/in love with sharing my performances, here’s the link to sign up to attend that Open Mic:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b4eadaa23a2f49-jamn13

You might be mad about missing your chance to see and hear “I’m Mad About You” unless you sign up by this Thursday.

Are you mad about any of my photos from yesterday?

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If you’re mad about anything, VOTE!!!

I’m mad about how this photos has the word RIP in it …

… which I did.

Here‘s my performance of “I’m Mad About You” at the Jam’n Java Open Mic two years ago, on NOVEMBER 3.

Please express what you’re mad about in a comment, below.

I’m mad about collecting and expressing gratitude, so thanks to all who help me blog about all the things I’m mad about, including YOU!

Day 2774: The difference between awareness and worry

I’m aware that I’ve already written posts about the difference between worry and planning, but I’m not worried about that.  I’m also aware that despite my belief  that worry never helps (an awareness I often share, here and elsewhere), I still worry.  For example, I’m aware that I’m worrying about the upcoming USA Presidential election and I’m aware that the worry affects me, every day.

You might be aware that I’ve already shared this photo about the difference between awareness and worry.

I’m aware that my writing might be difficult to read, above, and I’m worried that I might not be able to translate that into a nice table here.

          AWARENESS                                                                             WORRY

Present in the moment                                                            Future oriented

   Calmness                                                                                    Tenseness

  Certainty                                                                                  Uncertainty

Nothing needs to happen                                              Something needs to be resolved

       Helps                                                                                    Doesn’t help

 

My awareness tells me that table is not perfect, but I’m deciding not to worry about that. Awareness  of my own worry allows me to let go of it, every moment.

Do you see awareness and/or worry in these other recent photos?

 

 

I’m aware of the time, so here is “Aware of Your Love” by Carl Dawkins:

 

Is there awareness, out there, of how grateful I am for every day?