Day 2589: 02/02/2020

Today is

1. Groundhog Day,
2. a palindrome date (the numbers are the same backwards and forwards), and
3. my 67th birthday!

In 2018, I wrote a song titled “Shameless Appeals for Applause” which starts out

I’ve made it to age 65,

Nothing gets in the way of my passion and drive,

I was born with heart problems but I’m still alive.

I wonder if I need to rewrite that opening?  If so, not today.  Today I’m going to

• watch if the groundhog sees his shadow.
• think about the return of spring in the midst of winter.
• spend the day with my eminently quotable husband Michael who recently said, “If you’re going to learn something, you have to not know it first.”
• enjoy a new production of the musical “Hair.”
• enjoy not having to color my hair.
• get a free meal.
• watch for this Super Bowl commercial, which mentions my hometown:

• share my latest photos with you.

I have all I need in this corner of the world on my birthday, including YOU!

 

Day 2082: Don’t work so hard

Last week, when I was working so hard trying to memorize the lyrics and chords of my latest original song,  “Shameless Appeals for Applause,” I ran into Nancy Kleiman, who plays harp at Boston hospitals.   (It’s not so hard to click on this link for a story about Nancy at work.) Nancy and I both worked it that morning, talking and walking to the hospitals where we work. As she gives to so many people every week, Nancy freely gave me hope, solace, wisdom, inspiration, love, and support, including this advice:

Don’t work so hard.

After Nancy said, “Don’t work so hard,” we both talked about how we both love our work, and how that means we never work a day in our lives.

As I worked hard to understand what “Don’t work so hard” meant to her and to me,  Nancy explained how she became a harpist who plays for patients in hospitals — a story of synchronicity, luck, and beautiful connections with people and with her higher power easily working together.

Since then, as I’ve worked at many things, I keep hearing Nancy say

Don’t work so hard.

And even though it’s going to take more work for me to understand and integrate that into my life, it’s not hard for me to say how glad I am that I encountered Nancy on our way to work last week.

I didn’t work so hard taking these photos yesterday:

While Michael was working so hard yesterday making arancini for my board meeting, we didn’t have to work so hard to spot that hawk, who was hardly working.

Here‘s Nancy, working, on YouTube:

Here‘s more of Nancy’s soothing harp music, which works:

Working thanks to Nancy, Michael, hawks, cats, everyone and everything else that helped make today’s post work and — of course! — YOU.

 

Day 2077: Applause

Several times in therapy groups this week, there was spontaneous applause, as people supported each other’s perspectives and progress.

I remember attending an “Opening the Heart” weekend workshop many years ago, where each one of us received thunderous, sustained applause after introducing ourselves. I still vividly recall how that applause felt, after I had revealed myself and my vulnerabilities to many strangers.

How do you respond to applause?

Last night, I was surprised by the timing of the applause to my latest original song, “Shameless Appeals for Applause.”

 

I now shamelessly appeal for applause for my photos from yesterday:

 

No matter what kind of comment you leave below, you’re sure to get applause from me.

Gratitude is a kind of applause, so I’m now clapping for all those who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — YOU.