“‘Is this anything?’,” writes Jerry Seinfeld in his new book Is This Anything?, “is what every comedian says to every other comedian about any new bit.”
When a man got out of a plain white van yesterday morning and handed me a brown box, I wondered, “Is this anything?” and it was.
All day, I asked myself “Is this anything?” as I took pictures of anything.
Was that anything?
Here‘s Jerry Seinfeld talking about “Is This Anything?” on Good Morning America, which has many things I love, including cats.
If you hesitate to leave a comment by asking yourself, “Is this anything?” know that your comments are everything to me.
No matter what is going on in your life right now, be your own hero.
Even when your blogging platform (a metaphor for LIFE) throws changes at you that you cannot control* which make things more confusing and difficult, be your own hero.
Even if your eye turns red frequently because you’re on anticoagulants …
… be your own hero.
Even when you have trouble remembering things, be your own hero.
Even when you have a strangely-shaped heart (or anything else that’s unique, different, or weird), be your own hero.
Even when you have to rush, be your own hero.
Even when you have all sorts of feelings …
… like when $&@^!!?&%£!! WordPress makes it MUCH harder and time consuming to add photos and is probably totally screwing up the formatting of this post, be your own hero.
Even when you can’t always be first class …
… be your own hero.
Even when you have trouble making decisions …
… be your own hero.
Even when you are planning a 50th high school reunion in an ageist culture, be your own hero.
Even when you have to rely on other heroes to get things done, be your own hero.
Even when you have no idea how people are going to receive what you send out into the world (like this blog post), be your own hero.
After the retreats — which involved some small talk but mostly medium and big talk — I was thinking about all the wonderful friends I have lost over the last few months and I remembered how I’ve been saying to people, “Please don’t die.”
Then, last night at our local supermarket, I saw this:
Please don’t die, all you people who are reading this. Or, at least, do your best to stay alive as long as possible.
Here are the other photos I took yesterday:
Please don’t die, Harley and Oscar.
Please don’t die, tigers and other wildlife. Please don’t die, cousin Lani (who sends me great photos of tigers through snail mail, which is apparently still alive).
Please don’t die and use whatever remedies that might help you stay alive.
Dwell in possibility (following the undying words of Emily Dickinson) and please don’t die.
Please don’t die and please celebrate every day that you are alive. YAAAAY!
Please don’t die, no matter who you are, what you are, or how you say hello. Just don’t say goodbye.
two retreats about group therapy on Saturday and Sunday.
While looking forward to events in the future can help one feel hope, it can also trigger worry and fears about that future, like “Is this too much?” “Will all these activities next week interfere in my self care?” “Will the absence of the late Walter Becker get in the way of my really enjoying the Steely Dan concert?” “What’s the weather going to be like?” “Am I ready for November?” and “Where the hell am I going to park?”
The cure for future-oriented fears is refocusing on the present moment. And in this moment, I have several new photos to share with you.
To make this my day, my way, I’d like to revisit and clarify one difficult-to-read photo above:
History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.
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.
Yesterday, when I was looking for a birthday card for my long-time friend and ex-co-worker Debbie T., I saw this:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if YOU could believe that every day was YOU day?
YOU might be interested to know that yesterday was Debbie T.’s birthday celebration day, as well as a day filled with other excitement. Actually, I was so excited to see Debbie in person after many years and also her beeeooootifull home, that I took very few pictures at the birthday party.
YOU, Debbie (because I know YOU read this blog), were the perfect host yesterday. Thank YOU for introducing me to everybody at YOUr party (who all obviously love YOU) and for being so excited about my upcoming show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
I’m not sure if YOU heard all the puns being thrown around yesterday, including this one:
Have YOU heard about the new corduroy pillows? They’re making headlines.
What do YOU see in all the pictures that I did take yesterday? Let’s see if YOU can spot any unusual creatures (YOU might have to look closely).
Hugs to all of YOU and can YOU guess which card I gave Debbie? Which picture did YOU like best? Also, did YOU spot that dog-like creature being dive-bombed by snowy egrets on the marsh near my home? I thought it was a fox, but somebody told me it was too big to be a fox. What do YOU think it was?
Yesterday at work, I went to a meeting that aspired to be the best meeting of my life.
However, it was NOT the best meeting of my life. It was not even the best meeting of my DAY, because there were two meetings of my Coping and Healing therapy groups after that work meeting.
Because I am lucky enough to facilitate five therapy group meetings every week, the meetings of my life keep getting better and better.
I don’t think these are the best photographs of my life, but I’m sharing them anyway:
Are those the best photos of Harley’s life? There have been so many great ones …
… it’s difficult to say.
Tonight, I may have the best Open Mic of my life. Time will tell.
Are you going to make the best comment of your life?
One of the best things in my life is looking for ways to express gratitude, so thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.
