Day 3478: Brains

Yesterday, I watched “Still Alice,” a movie about a brilliant linguistics professor (brilliantly played by Julianne Moore) whose brain is afflicted by early onset familial Alzheimer’s. Even though that malady of the brain is “extremely rare” (I’m quoting the movie), I grew up knowing about it because it was in my father’s family. We watched 50% of his siblings deteriorate and die from it, as we wondered if that would happen to my father’s brain too. It did not, which meant my brain was safe also.

Last night, my brain woke me up in the middle of the night (maybe because of the movie, global warming, unknowns, who knows?) and I thought of a book I might write. My brain made a note to self and also on Twitter:

Several brains on Twitter could relate and are urging me to write it. I don’t know if I have the brains to write a book but I do have the brains to create a blog post every day.

I also have the brains to take my walk in the morning during a heat wave.

I have the brains to not eat cookies, candy, or hot dogs today, but my loony brain loves the moon!

My brain wants to know what I’ll find if I search YouTube for “how to make your brain shut up.”

Great brains think alike, apparently.

What does your brain think about this “brains” post? As always, my brain gives thanks for your brain, here and now.

Day 3477: Decisions, Decisions

I’m pretty sure I’ve written other blog posts about decisions, decisions because making decisions can be difficult for me.

Some people have decided that decisions, decisions can be especially challenging for people who are Perceivers (rather than the Judgers) on a Myers-Briggs scale.

One of my decisions about decisions is that there often isn’t one right or wrong decision. All-or-nothing thinking puts too much pressure on decisions, decisions.

At the same time, a series of bad, thoughtless decisions, decisions can have global consequences, like climate change.

Do you see decisions, decisions in my images for today?

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The National Day Calendar people are offering only two decisions, decisions today.

I’m making a decision, decision to share this result from searching YouTube for “decisions, decisions.”

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So many decisions, decisions to make as I create this daily blog, but I always decide to end each post with gratitude for YOU!

Day 3012: Time and tide

A long time ago, a wise man said this:

I thought of that quote yesterday when I wanted to inspect some new graffiti on a tower structure near where we live, but was stymied by high tide. While time and tide wait for no man, this woman waited for the time where she could explore and find what she was looking for.

No need to wait for me to share my images from yesterday, including the ones I snapped during high tide.

I thought I had spotted a heart on that tower and waited until tide and time allowed me to explore.

Time (and perhaps man) has changed a “TRUMP” and added a big heart to that tower.

Here are the other images I captured during the time of lower tide:

I don’t know what the tide was like during the times I captured the rest of these images because I was indoors at the time.

Time and tide wait for no man and Harley can’t wait for his breakfast.

Here‘s Basia with “Time and Tide.”

Time and tide wait for no man but I wait patiently for your comments.

Now it’s time for me to thank all who help me create these daily posts, including YOU.

Day 2479: What I’m letting in

I’ve been letting in my readers on my process of writing a new original song with the title “What’s Keeping Me Up Is What’s Going Down.”

I’m letting in additions to that song, like this:

What’s freaking me out is what I’m letting in.
I see no good reason to be wearing a grin.
Noises begin and reach a painful din.
What’s freaking me out is what I’m letting in.

© Ann Koplow, 2019

What I’m letting in, here and now, includes all these images from yesterday:

 

I’m letting in

• the good news that my INR is a perfect 3.0,
• the unusual structures of some hearts,
• more love,
• the challenges of being an adult,
• hope,
• pickleball paddles,
• global warming,
• my poor penmanship,
• animals,
• dirt cake, and
• the reality that Michael mistakenly set the alarm for 8 PM, so I need to run to get to work on time.

I’m letting in “I’m Letting in the Sunshine” by Piney Gir:

What are you letting in?  I hope you have room to let in my gratitude to you and to  all who help me create these posts.

 

Day 2462: On the verge of tears

Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote a blog post with almost exactly the same title as today’s. 

I wonder if I’m on the verge of tears, here and now, because

• summer is gone,
• I’ve lost three close and beloved friends in the last fifteen months (including two within the last four weeks),
• I’ve been sharing important thoughts and feelings (including tears) with new people (like classmates at my 45th college reunion exactly a week ago),
• I’m more than half-way through my Presidency of the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy,
• I’ve been providing my Coping and Healing groups for more and more people,
• everywhere I look I see emotional pain and physical pain in others,
• even though I invite people to throw away harsh self judgment and other old habits that do not serve them well, that’s much easier said than done,
• global warming and the world’s political situations scare me to the depths of my soul,
• I wonder about the future for my son, and
• I’m so friggin’ grateful to be alive.

I’m on the verge of revealing all my recent photos.

Yesterday, Oscar was on the verge of having an infected paw because of ingrown nails.  Now he’s on the verge of being back to his usual self.

I’m on the verge of revealing some news about me and my boyfriend, Michael. Can you guess what that news is?

Here‘s “On the Verge of Tears” sung by Patty Loveless:

What puts you on the verge of tears?

I’m always on the verge of expressing my gratitude for all who help me create these blog posts, including YOU.

Day 2416: Be prepared to stop

Yesterday, on the first day of my two-week vacation, I was prepared to stop and  to appreciate this sign in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA.

Be prepared to

• stop,
• look,
• listen,
• think,
• feel,
• connect,
• change,
• move on, and
• encounter lots of photos from the South and the North shores of Boston.

Be prepared to stop while you’re in the middle of creating a blog post in order to go to the dentist and then take your cat to the vet because, after all, what else should you be doing on your vacation?

Be prepared to stop, take a breath, and share the rest of your photos from yesterday:

Be prepared to stop and tell me what photos you liked best and why.

Be prepared to stop and enjoy this tune by the Zombies, stopping and appearing soon at the Cabot in Beverly.

I’m always prepared to stop and express my thanks to those who help me create these daily blog posts and to all those who read them, including you!

Day 2162: Oh what fun

Oh what fun

there is today,

If we see things in this way.

Walking by the sea,

Writing bad poetry,

Swearing up a storm

About how it’s getting warm.

Noticing a new fruit

and animals so cute,

Enjoying what’s almost funny

And focusing less on money.

Living for today

in your own special way,

Knowing you’re amazing

Even when others are not praising,

Deciding to just dance

 

When ever there’s that chance.

And singing along

To an “Oh what fun” song.

Expressing gratitude

For readers, songs, and food.

 

 

Day 2111: Say it isn’t so

“Say it isn’t so” is

• a common reaction to dire reports about climate change,
• something I often think, if not say,  these days,
• an expression of denial,  and
• a sign I saw yesterday.

Say it isn’t so that people get hurt at the opera.

Say it isn’t so that people we love leave.

Say it isn’t so that big brother is watching us.

Say it isn’t so that the sun will become our enemy, as average temperatures rise around the world.

Say it isn’t so that our cries for help go unheeded.

Say it isn’t so that somebody put these bumper stickers on his big SUV.

Say it isn’t so that so many people are traumatized by abuse.

Say it isn’t so that Daryl Hall turned 72 yesterday.

Say it, please, in a comment below.

Say it isn’t so that I would ever forget to thank all those who help me say what’s so important to me in these posts and — of course! — YOU.

 

Day 2051: Meet Mother Nature at her Fiercest

When I see “Meet Mother Nature at her Fiercest” these days, I inevitably think of the scary effects of global warming, like the wildfires raging in California right now. However, when you see “Meet Mother Nature at her Fiercest” when you’re in Iceland, it refers to geothermal phenomena like geysers and naturally heated pools.

However, when you see “Meet Mother Nature at her Fiercest” at Ann’s blog, it could mean many things.

What do you think of when you see “Meet Mother Nature at her Fiercest”?

Feel free to leave a Fierce comment below.

Natural gratitude from Iceland to all those who helped me create this “Meet Mother Nature at her Fiercest” post and — of course! — to you, my Fierce and/or Natural readers.

Day 1974: Real

Here’s a real definition of “real.”

re·al
rē(ə)l
adjective
1.actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.
“Julius Caesar was a real person”
synonyms: actual, nonfictional, factual, real-life
2. (of a substance or thing) not imitation or artificial; genuine.
“the earring was presumably real gold”
synonyms: genuine, authentic, bona fide
adverb NORTH AMERICAN informal
1. really; very.
“my head hurts real bad”

Here’s the real inspiration for today’s post:

What’s your real reaction to that?

My head hurts real bad when people

• deny climate change and
• otherwise deny what’s real to me.

It’s time for some real quotes:

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing?  Did I let go of my resentment? Did I forgive?  Did I love? These are the real questions.  I must trust that the little bit of love I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.  — Henri Nouween

Character is like a tree and reputation is like a shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.  — Abraham Lincoln

The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity.  Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office. — Dwight D. Eisenhower

It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.  — Mahatma Gandhi

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.  — Confucius

Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.  —  Hosea Ballou

There is no real beauty without some slight imperfection.  — James Salter

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.  — Buddha

Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.  — Albert Camus

Real magic in relationships means an absence of judgment of others.  — Wayne Dyer

Nothing ever becomes real til it is experienced.  — John Keats

The world is like a reverse  casino.  In a casino, if you gamble long enough, you’re certainly going to lose. But in the real world, where the only thing you’re gambling is, say, your time or your embarrassment, then the more stuff you do, the more you give luck a chance to find you. — Scott Adams

The truth is, as most of us know, that global warming is real and that humans are major contributors, mainly because we wastefully burn fossil fuels.  — David Suzuki

Monsters are real, and ghosts are real, too.  They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win. — Stephen King

People like to say that the conflict is between good and evil.  The real conflict is between truth and lies.  —  Don Miguel Ruiz

Well, real estate is always good, as far as I’m concerned.  — Donald Trump

To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.  — Douglas Adams

Nothing is so strong as gentleness;  nothing so gentle as real strength.  — Saint Frances de Sales

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.  — Marcel Proust

To keep it real, I try to have new eyes every day.  Here’s what I saw with new eyes yesterday:

Now I have a real dilemma: whether to share a real video of the Cookie Monster singing in the voice of the real Tom Waits …

… or this real video of my real son Aaron and his real friend Cameron from years ago,  in which lasagna and Michael make real surprise appearances and Aaron keeps it real in the moment.

I’m looking forward to real comments about this real post.

Finally, here are some real thanks from me to all those who helped me create today’s real  post and — of course! — to YOU.