Day 2482: Difficult people

Yesterday, in a Coping and Healing group, non-difficult people talked about difficult people.

If it’s difficult to see “difficult people’ in that list of topics, it’s on the third line, third topic from the right. Some solutions to dealing with difficult people are also on that third line: “self care” and “letting it go.”

Coincidentally,  I was researching difficult people the day before that group.  Here‘s a link to a Psychology Today article by Kimberley Key — “How to Handle a Crazymaker:  4 keys to keep from losing it when they start playing games.”  Kimberley Key’s 4 keys to dealing with difficult people are:

1. Take an observer’s point of view.
2. Maintain a healthy sense of self worth.
3. Keep a healthy distance.
4. Cultivate internal validation.

I need to deal with a difficult person at work today.  Blogging about that, here and now, is reducing the difficulty for me — I’m actually looking forward to the opportunity to practice these helpful skills.

Is that difficult to believe?

Let’s see if there are difficult people in my other photos from yesterday:

Harley deals with difficult people by hiding under the bed.

Even difficult people can inspire good things.  It was because of a difficult person that I wrote my first original song, 16 months ago:

And a difficult person inspired my latest song, which I performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last month:

How do you deal with difficult people?

Here’s another way I deal with difficult people: I get in touch with the gratitude I have for all the non-difficult people in my life, including YOU.

 

Day 2459: The Greatest Theatrical Event Ever

While I would like to think that my first Fringe show — “Group ‘Therapy’ with Ann” — was the greatest theatrical event ever, a different show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is making a claim for that distinction, as you can see:

Even if my Fringe show was not the greatest theatrical event ever, it still went very, very well. Thirteen people showed up and seemed to get a lot out of it. I got permission from the participants for my son Aaron to tape the two original songs I performed. Here and here are two of the greatest musical events ever on YouTube:

Are these my greatest pictures ever?

Five of those photos were taken by the greatest family event ever … my son, Aaron!

I’m looking forward to the greatest comments ever.

The greatest thanks ever to all those who helped me create this post  — including the cast and creators of “The Greatest Theatrical Event (in this place at this time for this price) EVER!” — and the greatest thanks ever to the greatest readers ever: YOU!

Day 2442: Everybody’s somebody’s _____

Last night, I sang my latest original song — “Everybody’s Somebody’s A–hole” — at the Jam’n Java Open Mic in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Everybody’s somebody’s

• support,
• hero,
• star,
• community,
• mess,
• weirdness,
• pest,
• baggage, and
• gift.

Everybody’s somebody’s …

teammate,

proud partner,

ninja,

angel,

fear, trigger, time off, safety, news, danger, clickbait, health, illness, stillness, trip, and

talented local performer.

I’ve asked the coordinators of the Jam’n Java Open Mic if I could be a featured performer some day and they replied, “We usually book people who’ve had a show elsewhere.”

I’m working on it.

Everybody’s somebody’s observer, so feel free to leave any observations in the comments section, below.

No matter what I am to anybody else, I’m always grateful to be your blogger, every day.

 

 

Day 2389: On a roll

I’m on a roll, as I roll out this definition:

on a roll
phrase of “roll”
INFORMAL
experiencing a prolonged spell of success or good luck.
“the organization is on a roll”

I’m on a roll in my role as President of the Northeastern Society of Group Psychotherapy.

I’m on a roll in my role as songwriter, because I wrote a new song yesterday.

 

Everybody’s Somebody’s Asshole

by Ann Koplow

 

Everybody’s somebody’s asshole.

Everybody’s somebody’s jerk.

You may think you’re great,

But you’re bound to irritate

Someone when you’re driving or at work.

Everybody’s somebody’s asshole.

Everybody’s somebody’s creep.

Even if you’re nice,

You needn’t wonder twice

You’ve definitely disturbed somebody’s sleep.

Who’s your asshole?

Whose asshole are you?

We’re all assholes

In somebody’s view.

Everybody’s somebody’s asshole.

Some asshole told me that long ago.

It might cause you grief

Or give you some relief

That it’s okay to let your asshole show.

© Ann Koplow, 2019

 

If I used an old-fashioned camera, all these photos might be on a roll:

 

Dinner was on a roll Sunday night, but not last night.

Here (and here) are two versions of Head Like a Hole/On a Roll:

 

Trent Reznor, Miley Cyrus, and Black Mirror are all on a roll.

Time to roll out the comments, below!

I’m on a roll with my daily gratitude, so thanks to all who helped me create this “On a Roll” post and — of course! — thanks to YOU.