Day 2110: The Real Story

With all the conflicts among stories and among people out there, how do we figure out the real story?

Yesterday, I saw a magazine that promised to tell the real story …

… but I didn’t have the real time to read it.

Do you see the real story in any of my other photos?

 

I think the real story is different to those on the outside and those on the inside. Harley probably has a different story about last night than I do.

Also, what’s the real story with this?

Every picture tells a story, don’t it?

What’s the real story, according to you?

The real story, according to me, includes gratitude, so thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to 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.

Day 2034: Is this good news?

If you look at the good comments in yesterday’s post, you might notice that some good people had some trouble discerning whether that post had good news.

The news in today’s post is that I can relate to that confusion.  When I look at the news these days, I often ask myself and others, “Is this good news?”

It’s probably not news that I’m going to share many new photos and relate them to today’s topic.  I ask you, good readers,  is this good news?

 

 

Is this good news that my son Aaron took so many photos of camera-shy Michael? I guess it depends on your perspective and on who you are.

Is “Good News” by Manic Drive good news?

By the way, I continue to get good news about my dentist‘s recovery from a double lung transplant.

I look forward to all the news in your good comments.

Is this good news that I always thank those who help me create these posts and — of course! — YOU?

Day 2033: Good Bye

Good day, everybody.  Today I’ll be wishing a good bye to one of my incredibly good cardiologists, Dr. Mark Estes, who has appeared in a good many blog posts (including here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here).

What makes a good bye, especially when you do NOT want to say “good bye” to somebody?

Most importantly, let the good person know how important they are to you.

How will I let the good doctor know how important he is to me? My good bye, on this good day, will probably include these good things:

1. Reminiscing about how good Dr. Estes has been to me over a good thirty years.
2. A good greeting card.
3. Good words, written and spoken.
4. A last good look.
5. A good cry.

My good reader, what do you think makes a good bye?

Here‘s a good 2007 video showing my good doctor briefly talking about a procedure he also performed on me in 2015.

Here are some good photos I’ve recently taken:

 

That good panel from that good Dove Chocolate advertisement shows these good words:

Find someone you didn’t mean to lose.

I didn’t mean to lose Dr. Estes, but he is moving to Pennsylvania because of family reasons. I’m glad I’m going to find him today, as we say our good byes.

Before I say good bye for today, I’ll share some good thanks to Dr. Estes and everybody else who has helped me create good blog posts over the years and , of course, to all my good readers, including YOU.

 

 

Day 2007: Don’t Look Back

Don’t look back at my recent posts, or you might see this:

Don’t slavishly obey people who tell you what to do or not to do.  Look back if you want to — you might see something important.

When I look back at yesterday, I see all these things, looking back.

 

 

When I look back, I see beauty, clouds, benevolence, sympathy, fear, worry, my son Aaron, his friend Cameron, books, bunnies, and Boston.

What do you see when you look back?

Here‘s Boston telling us “Don’t Look Back.”

When I looked back at YouTube just now,  this was playing after “Don’t Look Back.”

I look forward to looking back at whatever comments there are for this “Don’t Look Back” post.

Don’t look back at my blog if you don’t want to see gratitude looking back at you.

 

 

Day 1979: I love a lot

I love a lot of these photos:

 

I love a lot of people (including Mary, above) who were at The Open Mic at Kickstand Cafe last night to witness the debut of my first original song (which starts with the words “I love a lot”).

I love a lot of YouTube videos but I’m choosing this one for today:

I love a lot of comments.

I love a lot of people who helped me create today’s blog post and — of course! — YOU.

Day 1908: What’s around us

Yesterday, Bernadette at Tufts Medical Center was around me.

We talked about what was around us at work and with our families.  When I asked her if she wanted to appear in my blog (where I document what’s around me),  she said, “Sure!”

I showed her the other photos I had just taken around her.

She said, “Those are great!  Where did you find them?” When I told her they were around her, she was all shook up.  “Really? I’ve never noticed them!”  We talked about how often we don’t notice what’s around us.  We both resolved to not worry, be happy, and notice what’s around us.

Here’s what was around me for the rest of the day:

What’s around you, here and now?

Elvis is no longer around us, but he’s still shaking it up on YouTube.

 

Admiration and gratitude is around us, if we look for it.

Thank you!

 

 

 

Day 1852: Please pardon us

Please pardon me for starting yet another blog post with a sign I saw at a hospital.

Please pardon me for wondering why people who are doing good (like building for the future of patient care)   ask for pardon while other people don’t apologize for anything.

“Please pardon us, ” say lots of women every day, including Aidy Bryant in this recent Saturday Night Live segment:

Please pardon us here at The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally for

• strongly suggesting you watch that video and
• sharing photos without any explanation.

 

Please pardon us for not putting that “Time Flies” clock back on the wall after it fell down last week.

Please pardon me for requesting comments and for thanking Tufts Medical Center,  The New Yorker, George Booth, EMDR,  Aidy Bryant, brave voices everywhere, and YOU.

Day 1816: Finding gratitude

No matter what’s happening in the world, I’m finding gratitude somewhere and somehow.

Here and now, I’m easily finding gratitude because my son is coming home for the holidays. I’ll be finding him at the airport tonight.

Yesterday, I was finding gratitude at a medical center.

I was also finding gratitude when I saw these other images yesterday.

 

 

I’m finding this song on YouTube when I search for “finding gratitude”:

 

I’ll be finding gratitude if I find comments from you below, because

 

Of course, I’m finding gratitude for all who helped me create today’s post and for YOU.

 

Day 1739: Facial Expressions

One thousand, two hundred and forty-five days ago, I wrote another blog post titled “Facial Expressions.”  My facial expression would be happy if you read that blog post.  Heck, my facial expression would be happy if you read any of my blog posts.

Yesterday, I drew this  facial expression:

Pointing to the bottom face, I asked my boyfriend Michael if he knew who that was.   His first tentative guess was “Me?”  My facial expression, in response to that, was probably disbelief, because I have never seen that expression on Michael’s face. His second guess, which was correct,  was somebody we both know.

How would you describe that facial expression?  It’s the  expression I most dread seeing on other people’s faces.

I wonder what expressions were  on my face, just now, when I realized that most of my other photos from yesterday show facial expressions.

 

To improve my facial expressions recently, I’ve been listening to the score of “Merrily We Roll Along” by Stephen Sondheim (whose facial expression can be found here).  Here‘s a “Merrily We Roll Along” YouTube video that shows many facial expressions.

Those were the facial expressions I saw TWICE on the stage of the Huntington Theater in Boston.  Now you know.

I hope you know that all expressions are welcomed, below.

My facial expression, here and now, is gratitude for all who helped me create this post and — of course! — for YOU.