Day 2693: Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes, I will

• post a daily blog,
• create spaces for healing,
• continue my therapy groups,
• support better leadership,
• look for the good in people,
• try to have fun,
• enjoy literature, art, film, and music,
• spend time in nature,
• show up,
• be gentle,
• tell the truth,
• remember the past,
• embrace the present moment,
• hold hope for the future,
• improve the quality of life for those I love,
• maintain my ideals,
• welcome all thoughts and feelings,
• look for the helpers,
• seek answers to important questions,
• find my voice,
• be creative,
• keep growing, and
• take photos of whatever catches my eye.

Whatever it takes, we’re going to spend quality time with our cat Oscar, even when I’m sharing an original song on a Zoom-based Open Mic.

Whatever it takes to share your thoughts and feelings, consider leaving a comment below.

What would it take to show my gratitude to all, including YOU?

Day 2684: Oscar

Oscar, who deserves an Oscar for being the sweetest, most loving cat I’ve ever met, has cancer.

We’re grateful we still have the 18-year-old Oscar for more precious moments, even if we don’t know how many.

How many Oscars can you find in these photos from yesterday?

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There are four Oscar-worthy appearances of Oscar in videos I’ve posted on YouTube (here, here, here, and here)  over the past 13 years:

As you can see, Oscar has been a great supporting actor for both me and my son Aaron, who wisely picked him out of a shelter fourteen years ago.

Thanks to all sweet and supportive creatures, here and now, including YOU.

Day 2677: Lectures

There will be no lectures, here and now  — just a sharing of information and images, like this one:

Please, no lectures about that button I made for a woman who has to  deal with a man who lectures her.  Instead, let’s look at this definition of lecture:

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

“the frustrated manager lectured the waitstaff about its poor level of service”

Synonyms for lecture

baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid
Words Related to lecture

admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove
abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate
belittle, disparage, mock, put down
ridicule, scoff, scorn

Phrases synonymous with lecture

lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task

Near antonyms for lecture

approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction
extol (also extoll), laud, praise

Please, no lectures about my sharing the definition, synonyms, and antonyms for the verb form of the word “lecture” there.

Instead of lectures, I prefer

• action,
• help,
• thoughtfulness,
• kindness,
• empathy,
• awareness,
• understanding,
• listening,
• approval,
• endorsement,
• praise,
• openness,
• flexibility, and
• acceptance.

Who lectures you, these days?   Authority figures?  Family members? Acquaintances? YOURSELF?

How do those lectures affect you?  How do you deal with them?

If you wear a button like this about lectures …

… at least you’re being direct and polite.

No lectures about signing up for my socially distanced performance of “I Left the House Before I Felt Ready” tomorrow night between 7 – 9 PM, USA Eastern Time, but you do need to do that TODAY by using this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b4eadaa23a2f49-jamn2

Are there any lectures in my other photos from yesterday, when I left the house before I felt ready?

 

I didn’t hear any lectures in Buena Vista Social Club last night, but I did hear great music including this:

 

I look forward to your thoughts and feelings about lectures, below.

No lectures, just thanks to all who helped me create this “Lectures” post, including YOU.