Live today like you’re getting fried tomorrow (or like you’re getting stir fry today).
Here’s Tim McGraw, live, telling us to live today like you’re getting fried tomorrow with “Live Like You Were Dying.”
Live today with gratitude that, most likely, you (and Harley) are not getting fried tomorrow.
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.
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* After I published this post (which was formatted FINE), I discovered that I can switch to the old WordPress editor if I choose, so I have more control than I thought. Even when you find out new information,
What’s so funny about 2019?
Esquire Magazine asked and now I’ve asked, too.
What’s so funny about these 2019 images?
What’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?
What’s so funny about gratitude for all who helped me create this “What’s So Funny?” post in 2019?
What’s so funny about “Thanks a hole punch”?
During both of my group therapy retreats this past weekend, people honored and remembered the amazing and beloved Deb Carmichael, past President of the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy.
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.
Here‘s “Please Don’t Die” by Father John Misty.
Please don’t die, Josh Tillman (a/k/a Father John Misty).
Please leave your undying comments below and please accept my gratitude, which does not die.
“Looking forward” is something people often write and say about the future. Today, I’m looking forward to
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.
I’m looking forward to thoughtful and articulate future Presidents of the United States of America.
Finding this on YouTube is helping me look forward, even more, to the Steely Day concert on Friday:
I’m looking forward to knowing what you’re looking forward to. In other words, I’m looking forward to reading any comment you might leave, below.
I wonder if anybody is looking forward to my thanking everybody for all you do for me, every day, here at this blog.
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
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.
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?
YOUtube wants me to share “It’s YOU” by Ali Gatie with YOU.
Since it’s YOU day, would YOU like to comment, below?
Happy YOU day and, as always, thanks to YOU for spending a little part of YOU day with me.
Because I’m hosting a retreat for group therapists at our home today, I need to make a long story, short.
Yesterday, I had a long day in which I
Since pictures are worth a thousand words, sharing photos might be the best way to make a long story short.
Amelia and Percy, my new Honda-Fit friends, told me a short story about how she thinks our cars are yellow and he thinks they’re lime green.
Here‘s me telling the long story, short, about how I left the house before I felt ready:
Please leave your long or short comments, below.
Long gratitude, short:
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.
Here are American Authors with “The Best Day of My Life.”
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.
Last week, somebody who was joining my Coping and Healing groups said to me, “I have trouble asking for help.” I hope it helped when I replied, “You’re not alone. Many other people in the groups also struggle with asking for help.”
Yesterday morning, when I was writing my second Letter from the President for the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy (NSGP) newsletter, my boyfriend Michael started talking in his sleep. Michael sometimes talks in his sleep in the mornings, but I can never hear what he’s saying. It doesn’t help that he mumbles while sleep-talking. Yesterday, he said
Don’t (…unintelligible mumbling…) ASK FOR HELP!!
“ASK FOR HELP!” was so loud and clear that it startled me and the cats. Inspired by that message from the sleeping Michael, I immediately sent my latest version of my Letter from the President to a helpful friend and NSGP board member, and asked for her help in reviewing what I’d written. It really helped that I asked for help that way, because (1) she was very positive and helpful in her feedback and (2) this morning I restarted my computer and would have completely lost all my latest work if I hadn’t sent her that draft.
As Michael said, ASK FOR HELP!
I heard “ASK FOR HELP!” in my head yesterday as I looked for helpful images to capture and share. You don’t have to ask me to include them here and now.
Right before I took that last photo, I heard many cat noises coming from inside our house, so I asked for Michael’s help in identifying them. Since I asked for help, he showed me this video:
Those hungry cats were asking for help, and they got it.
After our long walk near the seashore yesterday, I received an email about Open Mic’s around Boston. Because it helps to practice my original songs, I asked for help in signing up for a slot tomorrow night.
Last night, Michael and I had dinner with my friend and co-worker Alice and her husband (not pictured). I said, “I think Alice and I have the female equivalent of a bromance. I wonder what that’s called?” Later, I asked for help in identifying that term. Would you like to ask for help in discovering what that word is?
It’s “womance.”
If you have trouble sharing your thoughts and feelings in a comment below, ASK FOR HELP!
Every day, I ask for help in expressing my gratitude to all those who help me create these posts and — of course! — to YOU.
