I’m almost ready to start writing this post.
I guess that’s good enough.
I’m almost back to how I felt, before I got pneumonia. That’s good enough, too. However, I am going into work later than usual today, as I continue to recover.
I’m almost ready to tell you the main reason I picked the title “Almost.”
I almost forgot to include some important information in yesterday’s post. Soon after I published the post, I realized what was missing, and I took steps to repair that.
“Almost” is something I can worry about, almost as strongly as an actual event. For example, if I almost
- forget something,
- damage something,
- lose something,
- hurt myself,
- cause somebody else pain,
- throw something important away,
- make a mistake …
… I can feel bad. I can imagine the consequences of what I almost did, and actually feel some real fear that I came … that … close.
That’s almost too much, isn’t it? I mean, it’s painful enough to regret the past and worry about the future … but to get anxious about something that ALMOST happened? Don’t we all have near misses all the time?
I’m almost horrified at myself, this morning. It’s almost laughable, how many ways I could be fearful and anxious, not only about real problems but also the mere POSSIBILITY of a problem.
Just now, I almost added “Almost” to the list of cognitive distortions (automatic, human ways of thinking that can cause anxiety, stress, and depression). But since I didn’t create that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy list to begin with, that almost seems presumptuous and inappropriate.
However, I’m definitely — not almost — adding “Almost” to my personal list of unhelpful distortions. I shall do my best to be aware of Almost-thinking, letting go of those thoughts without judgment.
I’m almost done with this post.
I’m almost sure I have some photos on my phone that will fit here, almost as if I planned it.
This house almost looks like it’s levitating:
Can you see it? Here’s another shot of it:
I’m almost amazed that this nearby, non-levitating house
has only almost sold, while the almost-levitating house definitely has.
When I was walking here yesterday …
… I almost told a passing bicyclist that she didn’t need to warn me with “On your left!” as she drove by. That almost always annoys me, because I experience it as disruptive, as I’m walking steadily along. Then, I noticed this:
… and realized the bicyclist was just observing requested etiquette (#2 on the list). I resolved to lose my annoyance, from then on.
This almost looks like a famous painting to me:
It’s almost dusk, in this photo:
To me, this almost looks like we have poker-playing mice:
What does this almost look like, to you?
Now, I’m truly almost finished.
Thanks to anybody who almost does anything and to you — of course! — for almost certainly postponing doing something else in order to read this, today.
The almost-levitating house was most definitely uplifting to somebody’s spirits, Ann. Sold!
Your mice have been playing Almost-52 Pick-Up on your floor.
And I think your cats almost like each other.
Have a great day letting the near-misses stay to the left, my friend.
Thank you for this almost-perfect comment, Mark. I say almost perfect because … I suspect card-carrying cats, rather than mice.
Your cats need to work on the shuffle, Ann. Otherwise, the card-carrying-on suits them.
Meow and Wow, Mark!
I remember years ago after almost drowning in hawaii, realizing that ‘almost’ was stealing the joy of being alive after a diving accident.
thanks for the reminder — I am not ‘almost’ grateful to be alive. I am grateful and celebrate the fact everyday!
Love this line — it’s painful enough to regret the past and worry about the future … but to get anxious about something that ALMOST happened?
So true!
And that levitating house — cool. 🙂
And your kitties are almost played out — maybe the mice just need a few more cards to make a full deck.
I almost got scared, reading this comment, about the possibility that the world lost you years ago, Louise. I’m so glad you’re here — there’s no “almost” about that!
I agree with you Ann. I think we probably don’t realize how many near misses we have in life. Is it because life is about balance, and just like in any balanced situation it takes little imbalance to tip the scales completely? Or is it because of the way that we label and define things? Almost is a somewhat subjective term and varies from person to person. One person’s definition of almost may not be another. It seems that “almost” isn’t a bad thing because if we know we are close we have a better handle on what adjustments we need to make for success. For instance. Let’s say I’m trying to hit a target with a ball. Well if I am 20 ft to the right, I probably didn’t almost make it. I might know I need to make an adjustment, and a big one at that. But if my best attempt was 20 ft to the right, I’m probably not going to get it the second time around. But maybe next time I’m only 5 ft off, then 3 ft, then maybe several attempts at 1ft off and I say to myself I’m almost there, I’m doing everything right, the adjustments I need to make are small now and I feel a lot more confident, and that I’ve learned a lot even if I don’t quite hit the target. 🙂
As always. Swarn, I feel more confident and like I’ve learned a lot from reading your thoughts. Now, with your comment added to this “almost” post, things are a lot more on-target. Many thanks.
Very cute, Ann. Almost. Hmmm…..I like your perspective. Love, Amy
I like your perspective, too, Amy , and there’s no “almost” about that! Love, Ann
Hehehehehehe Why, Ann, I really DO thank you!!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
If one lives in vivid awareness of the world and self, it is natural that the “almosts” are almost as affecting as actual events. You have pointed out the down side of this condition, but the up side is that one has even more–and less costly–experiences to learn from. Of course, it is a matter of degrees.
Thank you for adding more balance to this, Gene, by pointing out the up side of almost’s. I am almost perfectly pleased that you commented today.
I love how you coordinated the pictures with this post…living in the ‘almost’ for too long can be draining but like the post above me by Gene Phillips, I agree it depends on the degree. Great post as usual 🙂
Thank you for this lovely comment. I am almost beside myself with happiness.
Your cats are almost kissing!
I know! They are almost best friends forever. Thanks, Annabelle.
I love that ‘almost famous painting’ shot. Great post Ann!
Diana xo
Thank you, lovely Diana. I almost wasn’t sure what to say about that photo.
xo Ann
I think the cats are almost about to slap each other. The almost levitating house is quite cool. Love it.
See, Laura, it all depends on our perspective! Other comments have speculated that the cats are almost friends. Thanks for adding your quite cool vision to the mix.
I suppose mine has a little something to do with a general dislike of cats. Or the fact that the one I have is a mean little bugger, and it wouldn’t be likely that she would be friends with anyone.
The fear of almost is actually one I can relate to – I have more issues of the unknown and what almost happened than I do of what actually does happen!
Hope you had a great Monday and happy to hear you are almost back to feeling all the way better!
Thanks for this great comment, Kate, which almost made me dance around in my office.
Looks to me like your cats almost figured out which end is really nicer to smell. But then I remembered, they’re cats. Not even almost human, and it would insult them to imply otherwise.
This comment almost made me laugh out loud, several times, which is a real compliment. If the cats could read, I would ask them to read this. Thanks, Jill!
You made me think now, adding the ‘almost happened’ to the sadness of the past and concern for the future. Hmmm. I need to cross that worry off my list I think.
Let’s both cross those worries off our lists, Elizabeth! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Almost is such an interesting place to be Ann.
Never quite fully there.
Almost never actually happens.
I have never looked at it like this before.
It feels uncertain … but can also be humorous as it allows our mind to conjure up an alternative outcome!!
Val x
Your comments always put me in an interesting — and helpful — place, Val. Thank you.
Thanks always for your timely reminders, Ann. Life can be difficult enough – no need to twist our minds into knots!
It’s true, Michele. It’s amazing how our minds can go into knots so easily, some times. Thank you for this timely comment.
Love the Déjeuner sur L’herbe.
And I love this comment.
Here’s Déjeuner sur l’herbe:
Here’s another painting, with almost the same amount of fame:
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