Day 4149: Awareness

In my therapy group mindfulness exercises, I often suggest that people breathe in gratitude, acceptance, unconditional self love, and awareness.

For me, awareness includes understanding and letting go of old, outdated, and unhelpful beliefs — for example, if I put myself out there, something terrible will happen. My awareness tells me that old belief is born from an awareness of superstitious fears in my family as well as terrible things happening (including scary heart problems and painful hospitalizations and operations) when I was just starting to put myself out there as a child.

People who regularly read this blog may have an awareness that I will be putting myself out there in a matter of weeks in a concert/album taping of my original songs. My awareness tells me that something terrible might happen but good things are more likely.

Do you see awareness in my images for today?

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Perhaps people now have the awareness that this blog post was inspired by International Awareness Day.

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

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What is your awareness of your thoughts and feelings about this “awareness” post?

I hope there is awareness out there for how grateful I am for YOU!

Day 4139: Decisions

Yesterday, in a Coping and Healing group, one of the members said that they were “bad at making decisions” — not because they made bad decisions but rather because they were taking a long time and doing a lot of research before making a decision. They also experienced the decision-making process as painful.

I made the decision not to interrupt this person in my group, but my thought was that I could relate to their decision process.

Here and now, I need to make decisions about how to describe my upcoming concert of original songs on the venue website and in an invitation to the show. I’m procrastinating making those decisions, maybe because I’m “bad at decisions.”

What decisions do you see in my images for today?

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I have no trouble making the decision to play my ukulele on National Play Your Ukulele Day. I’ll also make some decisions today about the descriptions of my concert (where I’ll be playing ukuleles, the piano, and drums).

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

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I wonder what decisions people will make about leaving comments, below.

Thanks to all those who have to make decisions every day, including YOU!

Day 4135: What are they saying?

Yesterday, I went to a group therapy demonstration where it was difficult to hear what the group members and the facilitator were saying. That bothered me until I realized that I could still learn a lot by taking in non verbal communication and other signals from those around me.

These days, life can be so confusing that I often wonder “what are they saying?” even when the words are quite clear.

What are they saying in my images for today?

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Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what are they saying?”

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I also found this:

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What am I saying at the end of every blog post?

Day 4131: Taking chances

Today, I’ll be taking chances as I facilitate two groups, try physical therapy again for what seems to be a chronic (and perhaps unresolvable) problem, practice two of my original compositions with an old friend, and stay out late for the second night in a row at a concert with the amazing Jacob Collier.

Because I wasn’t given too many chances when I was young to survive to my current ripe old age, taking chances seems to come naturally to me. I talked about that last night at a Freedom Seder hosted by dear friends — Jonathan Gershon, Daniella, and their daughter Freedom — in Providence, Rhode Island.

Do you see taking chances in my images for today?

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Whenever I create one of these blog posts, I am taking chances that my photos for the day are going to load properly. Today, I had to work really hard to get any images into this blog, which makes me wonder if I’m taking chances by holding on to my old phone and laptop.

Here‘s what I find when I search for “taking chances” on YouTube.

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Chances are that you know that I’ll be thanking all those who help me in taking chances, including YOU!

Day 4117: What’s in a name?

What’s in a name? I’m going to name this: in my therapy groups people sometimes name how their names have affected them.

Can you see what’s in a name in my images for today?

I’m thinking “what’s in a name?” as I ponder the possible differences between International Safety Pin Day and Safety Pin Day. And in case you’re wondering what’s in a name for Salvation Army Founder’s Day, here’s the name:

“What’s in a Name?” might be a name for a great song, but if I’m going to put on a good show of my original songs this spring (or is it Spring?), I need to focus on the songs I’ve already written.

Here’s what I find when I search for “what’s in a name?” on YouTube:

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What’s in a name for you?

Thanks to Isha Mathur (yes, the TED talk people misspelled her last name as “Marthur”) and everyone else who helped me create this “what’s in a name?” post, including YOU.

Day 4112: What day is it?

In yesterday’s Coping and Healing group, somebody said that several times this week they had asked themselves, “What day is it?” Because they didn’t want to miss the group, they set an alarm so they could join and share with others, who seemed to relate.

In case you’re wondering “what day is it?” I hope there are some answers in today’s blog post.

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What day is it? It’s a day when I hope for the best and go for broke as I facilitate another Coping and Healing group, have an EMDR therapy session, and perform my latest song at an Open Mic.

Here’s what I find when I search “what day is it?” on YouTube.

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What day is it? It’s another day when I express my thanks to YOU.

Day 4071: Adventure

Today, I’m starting an adventure as I fly to Washington D.C. to see my friend Jeanette and attend a group therapy conference.

For me, adventure is exciting AND scary. I alternate between wanting to stay safe at home and the urge to venture out and try something new.

Do you see adventure in my images for today?

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Here’s what I find when I search for adventure on YouTube.

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Thanks to all who accompany me on every daily adventure, including YOU!

Day 4050: How is everybody doing?

Earlier this week, Elmo (whose birthday is today) asked this question on Twitter and got thousands and thousands of responses.

I found out about Elmo asking “How is everybody doing?” from people checking in during my Coping and Healing groups this week, where members discuss how they are doing. Somebody wondered why people they knew were being more open about their mental health, and somebody else speculated that it was because Elmo had asked, “How is everybody doing?”

Elmo discovered something I know from facilitating groups: if you ask “how is everybody doing?” and really want to know the answer, no matter what it is, people will respond honestly.

How is everybody doing as you look at my other images for today?

I’m not sure how the Daily Bitch is doing, but I know how I’m doing: I’m relieved and grateful to have made it to age 71.

Here’s what I find when I search for “how is everybody doing?” on YouTube.

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Thanks to all who are here for this how-is-everybody-doing post, including YOU.

Day 4035: RAIN

Tara Brach, the author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion, talks about the healing power of RAIN — an acronym with components I have trouble remembering.

I’ve been sharing RAIN with my therapy groups lately and I’m pretty sure, here and now, that R stands for Recognize (rather than Realize) , A stands for Allow (not Accept or Awareness), I stands for Investigate (not Interrogate), and N stands for Nurture (not Nourish).

Today, I’m going to Recognize that I am aging into my 70s, Allow for all that brings, Investigate how that affects me, and Nurture myself with self care and love.

I am also going to Recognize that many people support Donald Trump, Allow myself to have feelings about that, Investigate how that manifests in my mind and body, and Nourish myself with self care and love.

I don’t know if I’m using RAIN exactly correctly, but I am going to Recognize that I get scared when I think I’m doing something wrong, Allow all my feelings and reactions to that, Investigate how that affects my life, and Nurture myself with self care and love.

Do you see RAIN in my images for today?

Is the Daily Bitch practicing RAIN?

Here’s what I find when I search for RAIN on YouTube:

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Thanks to Tara Brach and all who help me practice RAIN, including YOU!

Day 4032: Brace yourself

Brace yourself for

• the 2024 USA presidential race,
• extreme weather,
• the unexpected,
• aging,
• problematic bureaucracies and institutional systems,
• heartbreaking injustices,
• what the media chooses to report, and
• yet another daily blog post from me.

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I’m going to brace myself for yet another INR test this morning plus a colonoscopy next week, which I hope can be performed without a scalpel.

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

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Brace yourself for more gratitude from me!