Day 3458: Flexpectations

Last week in a therapy group, somebody used the word “flexpectations” to describe an effective coping strategy. Rather than getting stuck in and disappointed by expectations and assumptions, this person tried flexibly adapting their expectations as situations developed and changed.

Since then, I’ve worked on flexpectations while planning trips for September and May and — despite my old habit of expecting disappointment — good things are happening when I least expect them!

Let’s practice flexpectations as we make our way through the rest of this blog post.

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Here and now, I have flexpectations about meteors, social media, Bomb Pops, and handshakes.

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

I have flexpectations about what comments I’ll get about this post and I have gratitude for all who helped me create it, including YOU!

Day 2594: People you’re stuck with

Yesterday I stuck this up on my white board at work:

We then made a list of people we were stuck with, including  family members, co-workers, neighbors, and the current President of the United States.

Who are the people you’re stuck with?  How do you deal with them?

Does it help to know that

• you’re not alone being stuck with people?
• you can try to limit your contact with the challenging people you’re stuck with?
• those people are stuck with difficult people too?
• you can focus on self-love and self-care even when you’re stuck with people?

Now you’re stuck with my other photos from yesterday.

I don’t mind being stuck with my husband Michael, who sticks healthy and delicious meals on our plates.

I also don’t mind being stuck in traffic listening to Bernadette Peters singing “Some People” from Gypsy:

Now I’m hoping some people stick some comments, below, about this “People You’re Stuck With” post.

Thanks for sticking with me, people, through so much!

Day 1841: Today

Today is Martin Luther King Day in the United States.

How to honor Martin Luther King, today?

Two years ago, I wrote about the void left by his death and tried to fill that void with quotes from him.

Today, I want to spend  MLK Day contemplating his dream …

… and what is happening to his dream today.

I’m noticing that two of my recent photos are relevant today.

I think that those who miss the boat on respectfully coexisting with others who are different from them are dinosaurs.  I’ve got to believe they’ll become extinct. Not today, but someday.

Today, as always, I end my post with gratitude. Today, it’s evermore thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to you.