Day 3308: Who needs a hug?

Who needs a hug on National Hugging Day?

I’m assuming we all do, because there’s been such a vast reduction in hugging for TWO YEARS.

People need hugs to feel comforted and connected with others. Yesterday, in my therapy groups, I asked people to give themselves hugs during the mindfulness exercise. (If they didn’t feel comfortable hugging themselves, I suggested they give themselves mental hugs).

Several people spoke about how much they yearned to be in the same room together again. I hugged myself as I admitted that we had no idea of when that might be.

Do you see anyone who needs a hug in my images for today?

I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not hugging any squirrels today.

This is what I find on YouTube when I search for “who needs a hug.”

Now I REALLY need a hug.

I hope my gratitude, here and now, feels like a hug to you.

Day 3307: Note to self

Note to self: Write about yesterday’s therapy group, when people sent letters to themselves starting with “Dear (your name here)” and ending with “Love, (your name here).”

Note to self: It can be very healing for people to send themselves important messages with love.

Here’s my note (or letter) to myself for today:

Dear Ann,

Remember to balance other people’s needs with your needs. And stop mindlessly snacking on popcorn and sunflower seeds to distract yourself.

Love,

Ann

Note to self: Share the images for today.

Note to self: In my groups today, do that mindfulness exercise where people hug themselves, in honor of National Hugging Day.

(Note to self: Make sure you have the date right before you publish your blog post. )

Note to self: look for a YouTube video of 97-year-old pianist Ruth Slenczynska.

Note to self: express gratitude to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

Day 3306: Chillax

Because I can’t seem to break my habit of worrying about (1) possible catastrophes, (2) not responding quickly enough to everyone, and (3) inexplicably high numbers for my weight and my INR, I am telling myself (and anyone else who needs to hear it) to chillax.

If you don’t know what “chillax” means, chillax. Here’s a definition.

These days, I can dance to my favorite tune or chillax, but I can’t have friends over because of Omicron.

Yesterday, in a remote Coping and Healing therapy group, we helped each other chillax by consciously letting go of fears and accepting our own worth.

I recently committed to doing another remote Open Mic on Friday and doing a presentation about my groups in February, so I need to chillax about both of those. I have a tendency to get nervous about performances, even though I’ve done so many before, so (say it along with me, please) …

Chillax.

After I get up every precious morning, I chillax by creating this blog. Do any of my images for today help you chillax?

I don’t know what “World Quark Day” is, but I’m going to chillax about that. Also, I’ve been eating way too much popcorn lately, which might explain the weight gain, so instead of eating popcorn on National Popcorn Day, I’m going to chillax.

Joan chillaxes by fetching her favorite toy.

What helps you chillax?

Ending each daily blog post with gratitude helps me chillax, so thanks to everyone who is visiting here now, including YOU.

Day 3304: Any questions?

Any questions about my images for today?

Any questions about what is the most important way to celebrate today?

If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments section, below.

Any questions about how grateful I am that you visit this blog?

Day 3302: A moment’s peace

During these times, it’s even more challenging to get a moment’s peace. That’s why I took a moment to ask this question on Twitter last night:

I’m working on getting a moment’s peace, here and now, while it’s very cold and windy outside.

Personally, I find it more difficult to get a moment’s peace when I’m scared and those temperatures feel scary!

Can you find a moment’s peace in any of my other images for today?

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If I have to go out today, wearing a hat might give me a moment’s peace.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “a moment’s peace.”

How do you get a moment’s peace?

I’m grateful for everything and everybody that helps me get a moment’s peace, including YOU.

Day 3301: Intuition

My intuition tells me to start this blog post with a definition of “intuition.”

My intuition told me to ask this question on Twitter last night:

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My intuition tells me that we could all use a laugh these days.

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My intuition tells me to blog every day and share images like these with you:

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It looks like the Daily Bitch’s intuition has not served her well.

24 years ago, my intuition told me to get tested for endocarditis (a very dangerous heart inflammation) when I was eight months pregnant and running a fever. I had never had endocarditis but, for some reason, I felt like I might have it. The doctor told me I had the flu and that was why I had the fever but “since you’re here and because of your heart, I’ll test you.” A few days later, I got a phone call, “come into the hospital immediately, you have endocarditis.” They put me on IV antibiotics for six weeks and told me, “This might make the baby deaf.” It didn’t.

After my son was born, I said to my cardiologist, “Why do you think I asked to be tested for endocarditis? There was really no logical reason for me to do that.” He said, “I think somebody up there is looking out for you.” My intuition told me that it was my late father, who had died the year before.

This is what I find on YouTube when I search for “intuition.”

My intuition tells me I will get some great comments on this post.

Thanks to all who have good intuition, including YOU.

Day 3297: Eye contact

I’ve been thinking a great deal about eye contact lately, and not just because of the Daily Bitch Calendar for today.

Most of the eye contact I’ve been making for almost two years has been through Zoom-like online platforms, and I know I’m not alone in that.

Last night — when my eyes were making contact with many things besides sleep — I was noticing that some of my memories of meetings and groups I was in before the pandemic are being transformed into Zoom meetings in my head. It’s as if I can’t quite remember what it’s like to be in a room with people, and my mind is filling in details based on recent memories.

If we were face to face right now, perhaps you might be avoiding eye contact with me because of that previous paragraph.

Do you notice eye contact in any of my other images for today?

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “eye contact”:

Here’s “Eye Contact” by Chrisaunt.

I wish I could make eye contact with you as I thank you for visiting my blog, but this will just have to do:

Day 3295: Contagious

Let’s start this contagious blog post with a definition of “contagious.”

I am surprisingly contagious on Twitter (with more than 20,000 followers there) and I tweeted this yesterday:

The answers included measles, yawning, kindness, hatred, love, Uptown Funk, lies, ignorance, laughter, smiles, misinformation, Kung Fu Fighting, anger, love, stupidity, racism, compliments, rumors, the rockin’ pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu.

I believe that joy is also contagious, which is why I asked this question on Twitter last night:

Do you see anything contagious in my images for today?

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I swear that I didn’t know that today was National JoyGerm Day until after I started this contagious blog post. Coincidences and synchronicity are also contagious.

Here’s a contagious song, with dancing:

Here’s another one:

And another one:

Gratitude is also contagious, so catchy thanks to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU!

Day 3293: January 6

Certain dates are shorthand for terrible anniversaries.

November 22.

9/11.

January 6.

How should one observe the first anniversary of January 6? Last night, I asked this question on Twitter …

… knowing that some responses would relate to January 6.

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Many of the responses did not relate to January 6, including these:

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Here are my other images for January 6:

Maybe I’ll also observe National Cuddle Up Day on this January 6.

We sure could use it.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “January 6.”

Also this:

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What are your thoughts and feelings about January 6?

Thanks to all who are visiting this January 6 post, including YOU.

Day 3292: Pressure

No pressure to figure out why this post is titled “pressure.”

I’ve got two songs about pressure running through my head.

I’m not under pressure to show up in person at the hospital where I work these days, so I’ll probably work only from home for the immediate future.

I don’t want to pressure you to choose your favorite image here, but I am curious.

Any pressure from that Daily Bitch calendar?

No pressure to leave a comment, below.

Thanks to all who are dealing with the inevitable pressure of daily life with grace and resilience, including YOU.