Day 2693: Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes, I will

• post a daily blog,
• create spaces for healing,
• continue my therapy groups,
• support better leadership,
• look for the good in people,
• try to have fun,
• enjoy literature, art, film, and music,
• spend time in nature,
• show up,
• be gentle,
• tell the truth,
• remember the past,
• embrace the present moment,
• hold hope for the future,
• improve the quality of life for those I love,
• maintain my ideals,
• welcome all thoughts and feelings,
• look for the helpers,
• seek answers to important questions,
• find my voice,
• be creative,
• keep growing, and
• take photos of whatever catches my eye.

Whatever it takes, we’re going to spend quality time with our cat Oscar, even when I’m sharing an original song on a Zoom-based Open Mic.

Whatever it takes to share your thoughts and feelings, consider leaving a comment below.

What would it take to show my gratitude to all, including YOU?

Day 2665: WTF??!

What, There’s Frost on April 18 in Boston??!

WTF is going on here??!

Why These Fotos??!

WTF do you think WTF might stand for??!

WTF is this??!

Where’s The Friggin’ comments section??!  It’s below, if you want to express Whatever, Thoughts and Feelings.

Who’s Thankful,  Friends?

 

 

Day 2650: Doing new things

During times like these, we’re all doing new things.  Doing new things can be

• scary,
• intimidating,
• frustrating,
• exciting,
• challenging,
• annoying,
• exhausting, and
• enlightening.

My new photos show us doing new things, including …

… using a beloved book in the remote versions of my Coping and Healing groups,

… trying a new fish we’ve never eaten before,

… Harley practicing LESS social distancing, and

… all of us here working hard to forgive ourselves and others.

I just learned new things about the Faroe Islands when I searched YouTube for “social distancing music” and found people doing new things here:

 

If you’ve never left a comment before, consider doing that new thing, here and now.

It also helps to do familiar things, like my expressing gratitude for all those who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

 

Day 2238: Guilty

I’m guilty of sharing guilt in my blog lately, as you can see in these photos:

 

I’m guilty, in my therapy groups, of using this book

to pose questions like “If you were to take a look at the various ‘guilts’ that you carry around with you, which would be least justified and which would be most justified?”

I’m also guilty of writing Day 126: Ridiculous Things I’m Feeling Guilty About and Day 977: Super Guilty for this daily blog.

This week, many U.S. TV shows were guilty of sharing the exact same “guilty” clip:

 

Sometimes I feel guilty when I snap photos. Yesterday, I saw a mangled bicycle in the middle of a busy intersection on my daily walk near work.  I considered capturing that sad but compelling image on my iPhone, but I knew I would feel guilty if I did. This story about that bicycle showed up on my news feed a few minutes ago.

I did not feel guilty taking these other photos yesterday:

 

I’m guilty of holding on to hope even in the midst of  death, destruction and national emergencies.

I’m guilty of being unaware of this great tune by Tom Wopat before yesterday:

Are you guilty of knowing Tom Wopat from the U.S. TV show The Dukes of Hazzard?

I’m guilty of wanting comments on today’s post.

No matter what we’re guilty of, I’m very grateful that you visited my blog today.

 

 

 

Day 2236: Build your own adventure

Yesterday, when I was building my own adventure, I saw this:

Actually, I need help from others to build my own adventure.  How do you build your own adventure?

When my son was very young, he posted a build-your-own-adventure game on YouTube, which I can’t find.  Therefore, shall we build our own adventure together, here and now, using forty-eight of my photos from yesterday?

You can further build the adventure if you click on any photo you’d like to more adventurously explore.

Here‘s what comes up on YouTube for “Build Your Own Adventure”:

 

I don’t have time to make the choices for that scary adventure, because I’ve got to go out into the world and build my adventure for today.

I look forward to the adventures people build in the comments section, below.

Gratitude helps me build my own adventure, so thanks to all who helped me build today’s post and — of course! — YOU.

 

 

 

Day 2088: You’re probably asking yourself …

You’re probably asking yourself, “What is this title and what does it mean?”

I’m definitely asking myself, “Why didn’t I set my alarm last night so I could get to physical therapy on time today?”

You’re probably asking yourself, “What photos will Ann share today, if she’s in such a rush this morning?”

Good question.

You’re probably asking yourself, “Should I answer any of those questions?”

I’m asking myself, “Do I probably have time to look for and share a relevant YouTube video?”

The answer is no.

You’re probably asking yourself … how will Ann thank all those who helped her create today’s post and also thank ME?

Day 2005: Here are the questions …

If you’re searching for the answer behind today’s title, here it is:

Here are the questions …

• Who is welcome?
• Where are the safe places?
• How should we enter?
• What is the next step forward?
• Why don’t more people vote?
• What will they vote for next?
• Who’s in charge?
• What is justice?
• Who are the justices?
• Who is corrupt?
• Who is fighting for the rights of the people?
• Why should we build walls?
• What would make you happy?
• What endures?
• What does it mean to be strong?
• When will strong women no longer be called “bitchy”?
• Why should I smile today?
• Who  listens to radio?
• What are people listening to?
• Why can’t I get to sleep after checking the news?
• What important questions are missing here?
• What other photos did I take yesterday?

Where is there a space reserved for your comments?  Below.

Here are questions and answers by Pat Metheny:

 

Who is grateful for all who helped me create this questionable post and for all who are reading it? Ann is.

Day 1724: Pre-existing conditions

I have a pre-existing condition of worrying whenever there’s news about health care  changes to laws protecting people with pre-existing conditions.  That’s because I had a pre-existing heart condition immediately after I was born.

Besides the pre-existing conditions of worrying and congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cctga) I also have pre-existing conditions of being …

• a neighbor,
• a mother,
• a daughter,
• a sister,
• a friend,
• a girlfriend,
• a group therapist,
• a caregiver,
• a patient, and
• a photographer.

 

 

I also have a pre-existing condition of loving cats, even ones who have the pre-existing condition of peeing where they’re not supposed to.

Whether you have the pre-existing condition of commenting on this blog or you’ll have that pre-existing condition soon, feel free to leave your pre-existing thoughts and feelings  in a comment below.

This song has been pre-existing for a long time:

 

I also have a pre-existing condition of expressing gratitude to all who help me create my existing blog posts and — of course! —  to you, no matter what pre-existing conditions you have.

 

Day 1691: Matters of life and death

Yesterday, people in my therapy groups talked about life and death matters, because that mattered to them.  They asked each other life-and-death questions, including the following:

If you were immortal, how would that change how you live your life?

If you had control over how you would die, what would you choose?

They found those life-and-death questions — and questions  about other matters (like the sources of fear) —  in the book “If … Questions for the Soul.”

When I answered the second question in last night’s therapy group, I referenced a memorable scene from the TV show St. Elsewhere, where an old man, dying alone in the hospital, asks to be held by an orderly in the middle of the night.  When the orderly lifted the man off the bed and held him in his arms as he passed, that mattered so much to me.

How might you answer those life-and-death questions? I hope you know your answers matter.

I wonder if there are any life-and-death matters in my photos from yesterday. Let’s see ….

 

Was losing and finding my wallet this week a matter of life and death?  My next step is quoting Shakespeare:

He who steals my purse steals trash. ‘Tis something, nothing: ‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands. A good reputation is the most valuable thing we have—men and women alike.

I took one other photo yesterday.

Is being calmer a matter of life and death?

Does this YouTube video about a St. Elsewhere cast reunion include matters of life and death?

I have some important matters to deal with today, including getting an INR blood test before I leave for Scotland tomorrow. But what matters most to me, here and now, is thanking all those who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — YOU.

 

Day 1544: If …

If I were to choose a wonderful book for questions to ask during group therapy sessions, what would it be?

If I were to share one question that was asked in a group therapy session last night, what would it be?

If you were to choose what you wanted written on your gravestone, what would it be?

If I were to create a gravestone online that showed my answer to that question, what would it look like?

If I were to choose one person who could untangle hopelessly tangled jewelry, who would it be?

My boyfriend, Michael.

If you wanted to see a map showing all-time readership for this blog, where might you find it?

If I were to predict one country where my blog would never be read, what would it be?

Greenland.

If my friends on Facebook were asked to guess what that was a map of, how might they respond?

• Alien abductions?
• Gun deaths?
• Ketchup countries vs. mustard countries vs. Russian dressing countries vs. mold countries?
• Highest rate of obesity?
• Years of Living Non-Judgmentally blog readers?
• Places that currently have Meals on Wheels and PBS?
• Places that have The Voice try outs?

If I were to create a customized t-shirt, what might it say?

If I were to choose a great saying for a tea bag, what might it be?

If I could choose an appropriate song for today’s post, what might it be?

If you could leave a comment for this post, what would it be?

If I could thank anybody in the world right now, who would it be?

Everybody who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — YOU.