Day 1947: Notice

I notice a lot.  For example, I notice that food advertisers (suppliers and restaurants)  often portray  animals they’re serving as very happy that they’re about to be eaten.  Did you ever notice that?

What do you notice about that lobster?

I also notice certain words, like “notice.”

I just noticed that I used the word “notice” in yesterday’s post.

I also notice that certain words stand out for me.  What word do you notice in this next photo?

I noticed the word “paranoid” —  that’s why I took that photo. Maybe I noticed “paranoid” because

• I’m a psychotherapist,
• I’m capable of being paranoid (especially when I’m sleep deprived or very hungry), and
• people who notice a lot might get more paranoid than people who don’t notice things.

I notice that I took only three photos yesterday.

I also notice that when people quit, it’s called “giving notice.” Notice that I don’t have time this morning to explore why that is.  However, I notice that my loyal reader (and fabulous blogger) Christopher, who also notices a lot, often looks up word and phrase derivations.  We’ll notice  if Chris discovers anything about “giving notice.”  Even if he doesn’t, he’s worthy of notice and so are you.

I notice that it’s time for me to share some music.

I notice that it’s the first day of May, the month my son will be coming home from University in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Notice that “Rock Lobster” is by The B-52s, one of my son’s favorite bands when he was a little kid.

If you leave a comment, I’ll definitely notice.

Notice that I always end with gratitude to all who help me create these posts and — of course! — to YOU.

Day 1899: I don’t want to deal with _____.

I don’t want to deal with

• snow,
• the cold,
• a cold,
• taxes,
• important U.S. special elections that are too close to call,
• the terminal illness of a close friend,
• broken appliances,
• condescending and rigid people, and
• the death of Stephen Hawking, who had to deal with a lot.

And yet, I’ve learned to deal with this:  Whatever it is I don’t want to deal with, life will deal me those cards.  I guess that gives me the opportunity to practice and improve my ability to deal.

What don’t YOU want to deal with, here and now?   Three photos from our third Nor’easter in 10 days?

What helps you deal with things you don’t want to deal with?  For me it’s

• hearing other people’s opinions,
• taking a breath,
• self care,
• patience,
• accepting all my feelings,
• trying a new perspective, and
• focusing on the things I do want to deal with.

Here’s Erin, who shows how to deal with a cold and people who don’t like her.

Here‘s  the original song “I Don’t Want to Deal with That Right Now.”

Here‘s a tribute to Stephen Hawking (who died on Pi day and Albert Einstein’s birthday).

Right now I do want to deal with your comments.

Please do your best to deal with my gratitude for all who helped me deal with creating another daily blog post and — of course! — YOU.

Day 1866: Ups and Downs

Last night, in a therapy group, when I went up to the whiteboard to write down the important themes in the room, I noticed a lot of them had to do with ups and downs.  The ups and downs included people’s moods, the U.S. stock market, and perceived successes and failures.

Are you up for or down for my photos from yesterday?

 

 

 

 

 

Somebody recently gave me a dreamcatcher. I’ll be hanging that up soon.

Happy thoughts bring me up when I’m down.

Ready for some up and down music?

 

I’m up for any comments you write down below this post.

Thanks to all who helped me with the ups and downs of this post and to you — of course! — for all the ups and downs you may bring.

Day 1843: The New Normal

Yesterday, in a new therapy session, somebody was talking about the new normal.  Because the new normal has been changing  all the time (which can cause new stress and new anxiety), we discussed new coping strategies like self-care, setting new limits, mindfulness, and taking a breath.

New snow is predicted today for New England, which is normal for this time of year.

Are there new normals in my new photos?

 

Normally, every time I see that new hotel marquee it has a new musical message. Whenever I see a two-fingered peace sign, I hope that peace may become the new normal (even though today’s new normal is “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme.”).

Here‘s that new normal, by Abba:

 

It’s normal for me to ask for new comments and to express new thanks to all who help me create these blog posts and — of course! — to YOU.

 

Day 1800: GUILT — Why?

Why is this post titled “GUILT– Why?”

Is today’s post — on the 1800th day of consecutive blogging here at The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally — an examination of why we human beings experience guilt?

Why would I attempt a post of such sweeping scope on a morning when I have only 15 minutes to create it before I need to get ready for work?

Here’s why “GUILT — Why?” is today’s title:

Yesterday, in my office, somebody was trying to figure out why they were experiencing increased feelings of guilt.  The conclusion was that this person was not getting enough sleep and was eating more sweets and carbs.

Why would lack of sleep and a less healthy diet cause more guilt?

I have no guilt about

1. not answering my own questions in this post and
2. sharing my other photos from yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a reminder … I can find a helpful video on YouTube by searching on my post’s title.

Why should you feel any guilt about leaving (or not leaving) a comment?

GRATITUDE (for all who helped me create this post and for you) — Why?

Just because.

 

Day 1642: Self Centered

Welcome to another self centered post here at the Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally.

SELF

Notice how self centered this post is already?

Yesterday, I told  people in therapy sessions not to judge themselves for being self centered.  How could we not be self centered? If we don’t put ourselves in the center of our own lives, who will?

I, myself, constantly witness people judging themselves very harshly for being self centered, labeling themselves too selfish, too self-absorbed and even narcissistic.  This is what I tell those selves:

“If you worry about being a narcissist, you’re not.”

I know my self well enough to know I’m not  a narcissist, even though I’ve stopped worrying about that.

Here are some self centered photos from yesterday:

 

Michael himself centered that delicious food on a plate for me last night after my self-centered therapy group.

Here’s some Self Centered Blues:

 

This self is looking forward to some self centered comments, below.

Thanks to all the selves who helped my self create another self centered post and to you — of course! — for being your self.

 

Day 1625: Vitality

Yesterday, when I was on Cape Cod visiting fellow blogger Mark Bialczak, his lovely and dear wife Karen, and their filled-with-vitality dog Ellie B. (a/k/a Dogamous Pyle),  I noticed this:

Mark and Karen both told me I had more vitality than the last time they saw me, two years ago. I said that was probably due to my heart valve replacement last September.   I told Mark  he seemed much happier than when I had seen him last and he agreed, with vitality.

Spending time with wonderful people, like Mark and Karen, is very good for my vitality.

Do you see vitality in my other photos from yesterday?

 

 

 

Personally, I think that last photo has the most vitality.

As I face a lot of vital changes — including selling a home, buying a home, moving near the water, and returning to work full time next month — I need to preserve my vitality.

What helps preserve my vitality?

• Self care.
• Caring for others.
• Spending time with great people.
• Getting enough sleep (working on that).
• Eating right.
• Good vacations (so I’ll be visiting Scotland with my son in August).
• Letting go of worry.
• Blogging.
• Listening to music.

Pat Metheny playing “Song for Bilbao” during a second encore Sunday night  improved my vitality,  big time.

What improves your vitality? I hope you know your comments are excellent for my vitality.

Vital thanks to all who helped me create today’s blog post and to you — of course! — for the vitality you bring here, now.

Day 1556: Worth more than gold

Yesterday, I saw a sign that asked a worthy question.

Who is worth more to you than gold?

My family, friends, patients, and readers are worth more to me than gold.

My trusty iPhone camera, which captures precious moments, is worth more to me than gold.

 

Michael‘s cooking and music I love are also worth more to me than gold.

Guess what? Your comments are worth more to me than gold, too.

Worth-more-than-gold thanks to all who helped me create this post and — of course! — to you.

 

Day 1481: Sending Out an S.O.S.

As I was Safely Or Securely walking to work yesterday, I heard Serious Old Sting, Singing Our Song:

I’ll send  an S.O.S. to the world. I hope that someone gets my message in a bottle.

What’s the bottle?  This blog post.  What’s the message?

Save Our Ship

Save Our Standards

Secure One’s Safety

Stop Others’ Suffering

Speak Only Sense

Stamp Out Shaming

Skip Over Shams

See Others’ Sacredness

Stem Outrageous Shocking

Secure Other Styles

Self-love Over Selfishness

Study Our Surroundings

Savor Others’ Smiles

Stop Overloading Synapses

Satisfy Our Selves

Shun Oblivious Shitheads

Stay Obviously Smart

Share Original Silliness

Splendidly Overcome Scariness

Stay Overtly Sane

Swiftly Outrun  Snakes

Stop Outrageous Stealing

Save Our Surroundings

Savor Outstanding Scenery

See Other Sights:

Shine On, Stars!

Sincerely,

Only Somebody

P.S. Satisfy Other Somebodies by Sharing Own Sentiments, leaving your message in a bottle, below.

Day 1467: Why should anybody care about me?

Yesterday, I heard somebody ask

Why should anybody care about me?

I then witnessed several people caring enough to try to answer that question.

Have you ever asked

Why should anybody care about me?

I have, many years ago.

When people ask

Why should anybody care about me?

they are also asking “Why should I care about myself?” and “Why should anybody care about me when people who should have cared about me didn’t?”

Why should anybody care about my photos from yesterday?

Why should anybody care about my blog?  Whatever the reason,  I’m so grateful you care, it makes me want to sing this song.