Day 2783: Does worry help?

“Does worry help?” is a question I have asked many, many (and don’t worry how many) people, over the years.

What’s your first guess, best guess about the answer?

Don’t worry, I’ll tell you answer. It’s a resounding NO.

Yesterday, people discussed the difference between worry and planning AND the difference between worry and caring.

Despite our confusion about those concepts, it is very possible to plan without worry and to care without worry, although separating those out takes work.

Does it help to worry about Oscar during his last days?

No, but it helps to plan and to care.

Does it help to worry about any of my photos here today?

Does it help to worry about procrastination or instant gratification? Coincidentally, last night my son and my husband were discussing the benefits of procrastination. Aaron said that procrastination involves getting a lot of other things done while you’re procrastinating. Also, procrastination makes you work efficiently, because you’re doing things quickly at the last minute.

Am I worried about my son? No.

Does worry help as I look for a dance number from Top Hat, which Oscar and I watched yesterday?

Does it help to worry about the weather? Not according to Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

Does gratitude help? Always.

Day 2781: Turning around

In my mind, I’ve been turning around the pros and cons of euthanasia for our ailing and beloved cat, Oscar.  Yesterday morning, Oscar seemed so sick that I scheduled a home euthanasia visit for this afternoon. This morning, I am turning around to cancel that visit, because Oscar took a turn for the better yesterday afternoon.

I notice Oscar has trouble turning around without staggering in the morning. In the afternoons, he is turning around before he settles in my lap. And no matter what he is doing, he is still turning around to eat some delicious chicken whenever we offer it to him.

My son is not turning around in his belief that we should not euthanize Oscar. My husband Michael is turning around what he believes is right, depending on Oscar’s behavior.

I’m used to turning around many perspectives in my mind while making decisions, especially difficult ones like this one. With so much turning around, everybody seems a little dizzy, including Oscar.

Turning around to today’s photos, here’s the inspiration for today’s title:

When I saw that sign yesterday, I thought there was probably no turning around from today being Oscar’s last day on earth.  However, in my life, I’ve experienced and witnessed so much turning around that nothing seems written in stone.

Last week, I witnessed people in my Coping and Healing groups turning around low self esteem by discussing positive attributes.  If anyone had trouble naming what they liked about themselves, the other group members had no trouble turning around to share what they appreciated about that person.

Every time I try to write my last letter from the President for the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, I keep turning around to other activities, like watching musicals on TV (including The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, and On The Town).

Here’s a thought that’s turning around in my mind: It’s difficult to say goodbye.

No matter where I am, I’m often turning around to take photos like these:

In On the Town,  Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin are playing sailors showing up and turning around in New York, New York:

There’s a lot of turning around in “You’re Awful” from On the Town, including Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett  turning around the meanings of words:

What thoughts and feelings are turning around for you, here and now?  Consider turning around and leaving a comment, below.

At the end of each post, I’m turning around to gratitude, so thanks to all who help me turn out this blog every day, including YOU.

Day 2777: Such a sweet ____

Oscar is such a sweet cat …

… that during his last days on earth, all he wants to do is be close to his family.

My husband Michael is such a sweet guy that he is closely watching Oscar and also making delicious meals.

Living near the ocean is such a sweet respite from worry, fear, and sadness.

 

As discussed in my Coping and Healing group yesterday, throwing a pillow on the floor  …

…  is such a sweet way to let out anger .

Today’s Daily Bitch Calendar has such a sweet description of feeling like a complete train wreck.

Here‘s such a sweet rendition by Wynton Marsalis & The Young Stars of Jazz of Duke Ellington‘s “Such Sweet Thunder” (which is such a sweet suite based on the works of William Shakespeare).

That is such a sweet tap dance and such sweet playing!

Asking for feedback is such a sweet way to let people know you care about their thoughts and feelings.

Gratitude is such a sweet way to end any encounter, including a blog post like this one!

Day 2768: Smiles

I wonder how many smiles appear when the latest post of The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally shows up (even when it’s late, like today)?

In a Coping and Healing telehealth group today, the mindfulness exercise was focusing on smiles. We talked about how even a fake smile can get endorphins going and improve somebody’s mood.

Smiles are particularly difficult to come by these days because of

• tension,
• stress,
• worry,
• fear,
• uncertainty,
• discomfort,
• loss, and
• masks.

How many smiles can you find in these recent photos?

 

You may need to click on some of those smaller photos to look for smiles, but smiles are always worth looking for.

Here‘s a song about smiles:

I’ll smile if you leave a comment and I hope gratitude makes you smile.

Day 2764: A lot going on

Yesterday, in what I’ve been calling the home version of my Coping and Healing groups (because everybody there, including me, is participating from their homes), there was a lot going on.

There IS a lot going on, isn’t there?  What’s going on where you are?

Is there a lot going on in my other photos from yesterday?

 

 

When there’s a lot going on, sometimes we get lost. I hope we all, including Chelsea the cat, find our way.

Here‘s a 1972 performance of “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye.

There’s been a lot going on since then, but there’s a lot more to do if we’re to get to where we need to be going.

There’s lot of gratitude going on here for everyone, including YOU.

 

Day 2740: I forgot

I forgot why I decided to call this post “I forgot.”

Wait!  I remember.

I forgot to check the celebrity gossip yesterday. I also forgot to share yesterday’s Daily Bitch Calendar.

I forgot to mention that I think there are many delicate balances in life.

I forgot what that off-shore structure was for (if I ever knew), but I didn’t forget to take more photos of it yesterday for the amazing blogger Christopher Waldrop (who mentioned it in a comment about yesterday’s post).

I forgot that we bought a “Breaking Bad“  hat years ago.

I forgot most of the episodes of Breaking Bad because I binge-watched them so I could watch the final episode with Michael and Aaron.

I forgot that we  bought a silver pen so that the star of Breaking Bad,  Bryan Cranston, could sign that hat, but he forgot to come out and meet fans after a performance of the play All the Way in Cambridge before its Broadway opening.  I forgot whether that was the only time he didn’t come out during the Cambridge run of the play, but I think so.

I forgot my cardiologist’s story about meeting Bryan Cranston, but I think it was a good one. (My cardiologist has SO MANY stories and I have so many stories about him.)

I forgot to feel sad about Oscar’s cancer yesterday, because he is doing so well.

I forgot why yesterday was an all-day “New Event” in my calendar.

Don’t forget: every day is an all-day new event.

I forgot whether the rest of my photos from yesterday fit today’s topic.

I forgot to ask a question from that book in my Coping and Healing group yesterday.

I forgot to take off those socks before my Coping and Healing group, but nobody could see them anyway.

I forgot to practice keyboards.

I forgot to read more of that excellent book about how the body remembers trauma.

I forgot how the ocean looks so different, every friggin’ day.

 

I forgot to remind you how awesome you are.

I almost forgot to share that photo of Michael’s latest cooking masterpiece. I forgot to eat crunchy snacks yesterday because Michael’s vegetables are so satisfyingly crunchy.

I forgot all the details of this old Steve Martin routine.

Don’t forget to leave a comment and I never forget to express my gratitude to all my readers, including YOU.

Day 2733: Signature moves

One of my signature moves is sharing the Daily Bitch calendar:

Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all need to practice this signature move of pushing everyone away. At least, however, we don’t have to wonder why we’re alone.

Another one of my signature moves is taking photos of what moves me.

Harley and Oscar have very different signature moves (as you can see in this post).

Another one of my signature moves is to choose a song related to one of my images.

My signature moves these days also include:

• Working from home.
• Going on socially distanced walks.
• Facilitating five online “Coping and Healing” groups every week.
• Winding up my Presidency for the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy.
• Spending quality time with those I love.
• Rewriting my original songs to fit current realities.
• Expressing gratitude and appreciation.

What are your signature moves?

Day 2729: Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes, I will

• post a daily blog,
• create spaces for healing,
• continue my therapy groups,
• support better leadership,
• look for the good in people,
• try to have fun,
• enjoy literature, art, film, and music,
• spend time in nature,
• show up,
• be gentle,
• tell the truth,
• remember the past,
• embrace the present moment,
• hold hope for the future,
• improve the quality of life for those I love,
• maintain my ideals,
• welcome all thoughts and feelings,
• look for the helpers,
• seek answers to important questions,
• find my voice,
• be creative,
• keep growing, and
• take photos of whatever catches my eye.

Whatever it takes, we’re going to spend quality time with our cat Oscar, even when I’m sharing an original song on a Zoom-based Open Mic.

Whatever it takes to share your thoughts and feelings, consider leaving a comment below.

What would it take to show my gratitude to all, including YOU?

Day 2706: Urgent

Despite my dealing with many urgent situations over the last two thousand, seven hundred and six days (but who’s urgently counting?), I’ve never published a blog post with the title “Urgent” before.

Well, there’s no time like the present and these can seem like urgent times, although “urgent” is not an adjective I’ve heard about these times we’re living through together. I HAVE heard people describe these times as

• challenging,
• uncertain,
• difficult,
• strange,
• weird,
• anxious,
• upsetting,
• frightening,
• scary,
• terrifying,
• troubling,
• painful,
• confusing,
• unexpected,
• unprecedented,
• stressful,
• crazy,
• crazy-making, and
• surreal.

Yesterday, during these challenging, uncertain, difficult, strange, etc. times, we brought our cat Oscar back to the Urgent Care Veterinary Center for a blood pressure test and to get medication. His situation didn’t seem urgent enough for an ultrasound of his digestive tract yesterday. However, if he ever throws up dried blood again,  we’ll urgently schedule that test as soon as possible.

Anything urgent in my pictures from yesterday?

People in my Coping and Healing group yesterday talked about many topics — urgent and otherwise —  including the anniversary tribute to Prince , which I had missed. So, after our trip to the Veterinary Urgent Care Center, Michael, Oscar, and I watched “Let’s Go Crazy: Grammy Prince Tribute” On Demand last night, including this performance posted on YouTube by BoDerekSmith:

Here’s an urgent performance of “Baby I’m A Star” by the original, one-and-only Prince.

What feels urgent to me, during times like these, is finding and sharing moments of joy with others.

It’s not urgent that you express your thoughts and feelings about this “Urgent” post in a comment; however, it’s definitely appreciated. Urgent and emergent thanks to all who help me create these blog posts, including YOU!

Day 2705: Looking Up

Looking up my old posts, I see I’ve used today’s title twice before:

Day 436: Looking Up

Day 866: Looking Up

Looking up those posts, I see that it helps me to focus on looking up rather than looking down, especially during challenging times.

Things are looking up when friends like Vivian send me photos like this one:

I like when dogs and tulips are looking up.

Are things looking up in the other images I’m sharing today?

Things are looking up when I can still enjoy a video of a groundhog  looking up and enjoying some pizza:

Now I’m looking up and looking forward to your thoughts and feelings about this latest Looking-Up post (in the comments section, below).

Finally, I’m looking up old expressions of gratitude to thank all who help me look up every morning and create these posts, including YOU.