Day 3742: Control

When I write notes for my Coping and Healing groups, the list of discussed topics usually includes “what we can and cannot control.”

I often say, in group and elsewhere, that we cannot control other people’s behaviors but we can control how we react to them.

Last night, I couldn’t control how people in the 5:30 group responded to the breaking news of Trump being indicted, but I could control my response (which was to name their happy giddiness and then reinforce the structure of the group).

Do you see control in my images for today?

It seems that the Daily Bitch, who is funny that way, has trouble controlling her bladder.

During the almost-two-year process of repairing the severe water damage in our upstairs bathroom, there were so many things I couldn’t control, but I could control my reactions plus the tile choices for the remodel. Here’s the video the shower door installer created yesterday of the now-finished project:

You can’t control what I blog about, but you can control how you respond (perhaps with a comment, below).

I can control how I end these blog posts, which is always with gratitude for YOU.

Day 3710: People pleasing

Many people in my Coping and Healing groups aspire to do less people pleasing. I find it pleasing to encourage people to balance their needs with other people’s needs.

Let’s see what the Daily Bitch pleases to say about people pleasing.

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Do you see people pleasing in my other images for today?

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I didn’t know which list would be more pleasing to people, so it was a no brainer for me to share both.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “people pleasing.”

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It pleases me to present a video about people pleasing by The Crappy Childhood Fairy on the same day that I’m sharing my Twitter question about favorite fairy tales. If it pleases other people, that’s a bonus.

Thanks to all the pleasing people who helped me write this “people pleasing” post, including YOU!

Day 3707: Cause and effect

In the notes I write for my Coping and Healing groups, the topics often include “cause and effect.” What causes me to do that is that people often like to identify relationships between events, even when that relationship might not exist.

For example, when I noted yesterday that our ailing Bonsai tree was doing better, my usually very logical husband Michael replied that my saying that out loud was going to cause problems for the Bonsai tree. I don’t believe in that kind of cause and effect, so I’ll just keep speaking my mind whenever I choose.

Do you see cause and effect in my images for today?

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The fact that today is National Dance Day is going to cause me to effectively ask my husband to dance with me later.

A patient telling me she loves the group Bleachers is causing the effect of my choosing this song for our dance tonight:

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Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “cause and effect.”

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I wonder if my asking for comments about this cause-and-effect post will cause you to leave one, below?

There are many causes that contribute to the effect of my expressing gratitude to you, here and now.

Day 3706: Happy

I’m happy to wish a happy birthday to my son Aaron and to my cardiologist, Dr. Deeb Salem! 🎉🎉🎂🎂🎁🎁💕

Yesterday, I was happy about the results of my annual check up with Dr. Salem. He said he wants to see me again in six months because “seeing you makes me happy.” Tufts Medical Center is going to name a building after him soon and when they do, I’ll be happy to make a speech, as he has requested, at that celebration. I was happy to swap stories about our long relationship in front of two young doctors yesterday and I was happy to exclaim, “Don’t I look great for my age!” even though nobody could really tell because I was wearing a mask.

I’m happy that I have a wonderful son and that we decided it was safe enough for me to get pregnant in my 40s despite my congenital heart condition.

My husband Michael and I were happy to watch the Deadwood movie last night which gave some good closure to the series, especially because some of the characters were finally happy!

I’m happy that today is my longest and busiest working day of the week because I get to facilitate two Coping and Healing groups on Thursdays.

I’m happy with our new shower/bathroom remodel and with all the images I have to share with you today.

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I’m happy with the new tiles in the bathroom on National Tile Day and I’m very happy that today is World Understanding and Peace Day.

I’m happy that this is what I find when I search for “Happy” on YouTube.

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Finally, I’m happy to thank everyone who helped me create this happy post, including YOU!

Day 3705: Corrected

Here are some random thoughts about “corrected”:

• I have a very rare congenital heart condition — Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries — a name that is sometimes corrected to Levo Transposition of the Great Arteries.
• When my cardiologist Dr. Deeb Salem (whom I’m seeing today) discovered in 1980 that I had Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries, that finding corrected previous doctors’ assumptions that I just had a complete heart block which had been corrected with pacemakers starting when I was 10 years old.
• When we found out I had Congenitally Corrected Transposition, I corrected one of my mother’s favorite expressions — “Two wrongs don’t make a right” — because in Congenitally Corrected Transposition two wrongs DO make a right — all the blood ends up in the right place (phew!).
• For decades, I didn’t realize that Dr. Salem and my son Aaron were both born on February 23, an oversight that was corrected last year when my annual check-up with Dr. Salem was on that shared birthdate.
• I remember the late Steve Allen saying this on some late night show: “I stand corrected, because I’m wearing orthopedic shoes.”
• The extensive water damage in our upstairs shower/bathroom is almost complete corrected after almost two years of insurance claims and construction. Something that still needs to be corrected is a replacement toilet that was ordered in the wrong color.
• Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like there is always something that needs to be corrected.

Do you see anything corrected in my images for today?

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World Thinking Day has me thinking about yesterday’s Coping and Healing group where people were thinking about ways to correct (or at least reduce) overthinking, including practicing mindfulness.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “corrected.”

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Just to let you know, when I try to type L-tga (the abbreviation for Levo Transposition of the Great Arteries), auto correct keeps changing it to “L-thanksgiving”.

Speaking of thanksgiving, thanks to all who help me publish corrected blog posts every day, including YOU!

Day 3704: Power moves

The Daily Bitch has got me thinking about power moves today.

Strangely enough, my power move is listening to what people say and letting them finish their thoughts. That’s why my Coping and Healing groups include a check-in where everyone says whatever they choose without interruption; I am often moved by how people use that power.

The news, as usual, is filled with power moves by world leaders and I wonder how these moves are going to affect the rest of us.

Do you see power moves in my other images for today?

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

Is it a power move for me to ask you to leave a comment, below?

One of my power moves is expressing gratitude, so thanks to all those who give me the power to create these daily blog posts, including YOU!

Day 3680: Lessons learned

When I write notes for my Coping and Healing groups, the list of topics discussed often includes “lessons learned.”

Last night, I asked a question about lessons learned on Twitter.

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Do you see lessons learned in my other images for today?

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Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “lessons learned.”

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I’m so grateful for all my lessons learned from others, including YOU!

Day 3662: Favorite words

Do you see any favorite words in today’s blog post?

I’ve shared many favorite words in this blog post so far (resilient, compassion, peace, questions, flowers, laughs, power, write, story, superheroes, coping, healing, curiosity, content, clear, slow, fearless, quintessential, relax, synopsis, appreciation, save, travel, chocolate, energy, etc.). Let’s see what happens when I search for “favorite words” on YouTube.

I also find this when I search for “favorite words.”

I look forward to reading your favorite words in the comments section, below.

Finally, two of my favorite words are “thank” and “you.”

Day 3632: Hugs

Hugs were a big thing in my therapy groups last week. During the in-person group on Monday, several people spontaneously gave and received hugs. In the on-line groups, I suggested giving oneself hugs as a mindfulness exercise.

I think people need hugs these days, so I’m including some hugs in today’s images.

Hugs to the Institute for Therapeutic Ridicule and to everyone else who answers my questions on social media.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “hugs.”

I also find this.

Thankful hugs to all who help me create these daily posts, including YOU!

Day 3627: Work in Progress

Progressing to work at the hospital yesterday, I saw this sign:

I will pardon your appearance if you pardon mine, because we are all works in progress.

Do you see work in progress in my other images for the day?

Our bathroom renovation has been a work in progress for 18 months, but I haven’t lost my temper. I’m looking forward to progress today with several workers showing up.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “work in progress.”

Thanks to all who support this work-in-progress blog, including YOU.