Day 3439: Freaking Adorable

I think the Daily Bitch is freaking adorable and that’s why I share that calendar with freaking adorable people.

Today I’m going to attend a Zoom conference with some fellow freaking adorable group therapists. Tonight, for the first time since the start of the freaking pandemic, I’m going to attend an in-person party for the freaking adorable Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy. I’m not freaking out about that because the party is mostly outside and I’ll wear this freaking adorable mask whenever I’m inside:

After all we’ve been through, we’re probably not as freaking adorable as we used to be, but I think we’re freaking adorable enough.

I hope you enjoy my other freaking adorable images for today.

It’s freaking adorable that the National Day Calendar sends you a puppy when you ask about a National Day that doesn’t exist (like National Fred Day or National Ann Day).

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

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I think this comment about that video is freaking adorable:

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By the way, I’m very close to 30,000 freaking adorable followers on Twitter and I’ll be sharing this video when I hit that freaking amazing number.

I look forward to your freaking adorable comments, below.

Thanks to everyone who is freaking adorable, including YOU!

Day 1904: How to Survive Anything

After surviving another day yesterday, I noticed this magazine at our local supermarket.

I didn’t buy that, probably because I don’t believe I can survive anything. Eventually, something is going to get me.

In the meantime, I wish there was a survival magazine for penguins …

… who are doing fine in the supermarket but are struggling to survive in the wild (see here for more about penguin survival).

If you were going to write something titled “How to Survive Anything,” what might you include?  I would include

• seeing great movies,

• doing things with those you love,

• taking bathroom breaks,
• learning from those around me (including cats),

• eating cake,

• having all my feelings (including getting pissy sometimes),
• looking forward to spring,

• touching and feeling,
• feeling better and cheering up,

• letting go of worry,

• puns,

• good food,

• music,

• kindness, and
• gratitude to all, including YOU.

Day 255: If you suspect somebody is not doing good enough work for you

If you suspect somebody is not doing good enough work for you (e.g., a lawyer, a contractor, anybody you are paying), what do you do?

I confess, I find that a challenging question.

Here’s how I tend to react to that kind of situation:

1. I feel some anger. This makes sense, since anger is the human reaction to not getting needs met (especially expressed wishes).
2. Because I don’t feel that comfortable with anger, I feel confusion.
3. I ask myself many questions, such as: Am I really understanding what is going on here?  Was I actually clear about my needs and wishes? Did I contribute to the current situation?
4. I fantasize about firing the person and working with somebody else.
5. I fantasize about yelling at the person, in some way.
6. I tell myself that #4 and #5, while attractive,  are not appropriate at this point.
7. I work towards getting clarification and/or resolution.
8. If I don’t succeed, repeat 4 – 7.
9. I work on crafting an  I-Statement which includes (a) my wishes and (b) some consequence to my wishes not being met.
10. I send that message.

That’s where I am, this morning.

I’m realizing, right now, that the above is not a bad process, even though I’m not thrilled with it. Here’s how I would like to improve that process, moving forward:.

• Let go of fears that come up during the process.
• Move off of Step 8 more quickly.
• Move off of Step 9 more quickly.
• Actually, move off of every friggin’ step more quickly.

Hmmmm.  If I let go of fears that come up during the process, the rest may take care of itself.

The written part of this post feels finished to me.  How about an image?

Here’s a sample of how Google Images responds to “let go of fears”:

Okay!

Thanks to Gandhi, polar bears, penguins, courageous creatures everywhere (including bloggers, lawyers, and contractors), and you — of course! — for reading today.