Day 3090: Forward

As I look forward to the rest of my life after serving for a decade on the board of directors of a group therapy professional organization, I want to share this sign with you:

I am looking forward to much more time to spend on music, singing, dancing, writing, reading, relaxing, and fun!

I hope it’s not too forward of me to share all these other images, as I look forward to today and the rest of my future.

Even though I am no longer on the board of directors, I look forward to continuing to practice and express my passion for the healing power of groups — here and everywhere else.

Now I look forward to sharing these two songs with great vocal performances (here and here on YouTube):

Now, I look forward to your comments and expressing my gratitude to all who help me keep blogging every day, including YOU!

Day 1057: Phew

“Phew” is a sound of relief.  It’s one of a few sounds I make — to myself and out loud to others — that  I call “comic book noises.”   Another comic book noise I make is “Eeeek!”

Because “Eeeek!” is a sound of fear, “Phew” is a good balance for that one.

Phew!

It’s a relief to have balance in my life.

When I woke up this morning, I realized I had lived through another  November 22nd.

Phew.

Now it’s time to think about

• my new psychotherapy office in Newton, starting on December 1,
• the holidays,
• my almost-full-time work at a major Boston teaching hospital where I provide group and individual therapy,
• my 17-year-old son’s college application process,
• the increasingly cold weather,
• blogging every day, and
• lots of events and obligations, coming up soon.

For everything in that list, I could say

Eeeek!

or

Phew

… depending on my mood and my perspective.

I’m much more likely to say “Phew”  if I

• focus on the present moment,
• take one step at a time,
• identify what is achievable,
• exercise self-care, and
•  connect with others.

What makes you say “Eeek”?  What makes you say “Phew”?

Do any of my  photos evoke comic book noises?

If I don’t include music in today’s post, will that cause an “Eeek!” or a “Phew”?

It’s a relief (Phew) to thank people, cats, personal produce (Eeeek!)  and you — Yay! —  no matter what noises you’re making, here and now.

Day 165: Rejection, Schmejection

Here are the headlines:

HEADLINE # 1.

My son is home, recovering well from the spontaneous pneumothorax.

.

HEADLINE #2.

My presentation about my new groups, at a 3-day group therapy conference this weekend —  which I’ve been blathering about for months (here and elsewhere) — has been cancelled, due to low registration.

.

.

When you are upset, down, judgmental, or any other place you don’t want to be, try  this: Distracting yourself.  It works! Here’s proof: Rather than feeling  relief, disappointment, embarrassment, self-criticism,  conference-criticism, pessimism, or optimism, I am now thinking, “What the hell is going on with that cricket? And why?”

Gotta go to the conference.  Thanks so much for reading today.