Day 3387: A state of constant amazement

Yesterday, I was happy to see this sentence about a state of constant amazement in the book “1325 Buddhist Ways to be Happy” by Barbara Ann Kipfer.

I think I AM awake because I do seem to live in a state of constant amazement. Maybe that’s why I use the word “amazing” constantly.

When I went out for a walk in the 50 degree weather yesterday with no raincoat (because my iPhone told me there was no chance of precipitation), I was in a state of constant amazement because of

• the beauty that was all around me,
• the rain that started when I was far from home, and
• the amazing and almost biblical HAIL, from which I could find no escape and therefore decided to laugh at and enjoy.

Do you see the state of constant amazement in my other images for today?

I’m in a state of constant amazement about how things are never what you expect. Three years ago, on National Siblings Day, Michael and I decided to not worry for a year, because worry never helps anything. We didn’t know what was ahead of us from April 10, 2019 through April 10, 2020 (my son and I both getting shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, my speaking at my college reunion, Michael and I getting married, my getting COVID at a group therapy conference in NYC, the COVID lockdowns, our cat Oscar getting cancer, etc.) or we might have been in a state of constant amazement at our hope to not worry for that amazing year.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “a state of constant amazement.”

I’m in a state of constant amazement about what people go through in this world and the healing power of love.

Thanks to all who are sharing my state of constant amazement here and now, including YOU.

Day 3244: I love _____

I love asking people questions, so how would you fill in the blank of today’s title?

Last night, after a wonderful last day of a New York vacation, I said “I love New York” out loud as I was walking through Times Square.

I love looking on YouTube for relevant videos, so here’s an example of the “I Love New York” advertising campaign from the 1970s …

… and a 1978 version of the song from that campaign.

I love sharing my images with you in this daily blog, so here are many reasons I love New York

I love:

• the High Line walk,
• wonderful, talented people like Stephen Colbert and Jon Batiste,
• delicious French food at restaurants like La Rivage, and
• Twitter even when I’m on vacation.

I love people loving themselves more.

I love getting comments and I love ending each blog post with gratitude for YOU!

Day 2602: Read Carefully

Who has time to read carefully these days, with all the information pouring in?

Nevertheless, I am going to read carefully before voting in the Massachusetts primary election by absentee ballot. If you read carefully, over the next few moments, you will discover that I need an absentee ballot because I’ll be attending a week-long group therapy conference in New York City the first week of March.

Read carefully when you look at my other photos from yesterday.

If you read this daily blog carefully, you know I’ve been mourning the death of jazz keyboardist Lyle Mays all this week. Last night, when I was reading my recorded Stephen Colbert shows carefully, I noticed that keyboardist and band leader Jon Batiste was also carefully paying homage to Lyle by interjecting a musical phrase by Lyle during Stephen’s monologue:

If you read that video carefully, you’ll find the sounds of Lyle at 2:44, 4:14, 7:26, and 9:46.

Here’s “Close to Home,” the Lyle Mays composition that Jon Batiste was carefully reading and sharing.

If I read carefully, I always realize that I am not alone.

If you leave a comment, of course I will read carefully and respond.

Read carefully and you’ll see that I’m grateful for all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

Day 2581: What would you wish for?

On this 2581st day of this daily blog (which is also the Lunar New Year), what would you wish for?

Would you wish for

• health,
• happiness,
• love,
• laughter,
• life,
• peace,
• prosperity,
• everyone to be happy,
• no snow,
• people to be nicer,
• moments of joy,
• universal health care,
• a cure for cancer,
• a salary raise,
• no student debt,
• mental health,
• yoga,
• self care,
• safety,
• a trip,
• 50,000 steps a week,
• a new label maker,
• kindness, and/or
• for wishes to come true?

Would you wish for more photos from me?

I also wish for a good birthday for myself on 02/02/2020, for great music like this …

… and for comments about what you wish for.

I wish you knew how much I appreciate all those who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.