Monthly Archives: June 2018

Day 1987: Pride

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Ann Koplow

Take pride in yourself and your accomplishments, no matter who you are. Your pride is contagious and good for us all.

Here’s a definition of “pride.”

pride
prīd
noun
1. a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
“the team was bursting with pride after recording a sensational victory”
synonyms: pleasure, joy, delight, gratification, fulfillment, satisfaction, a sense of achievement
“take pride in a good job well done”
2. a group of lions forming a social unit.
verb
1. be especially proud of a particular quality or skill.
“she’d always prided herself on her ability to deal with a crisis”
synonyms: be proud of, be proud of oneself for, take pride in, take satisfaction in, congratulate oneself on, pat oneself on the back for
“Lucas prides himself on his knowledge of wine”

Yesterday was the Pride Parade and many other Pride activities in Boston, including a Pride service, a Pride festival, a Pride concert, the Boston Pride Parade, and Pride Parties. (Here‘s a link to bostonpride.org.)

I take pride in my photos from yesterday.

Here‘s a “Boston Pride 2018” video:

Here‘s another one:

What does “Pride” mean to you?

Thank you all for your pride, here and now.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston Pride, Boston Pride 2018, definition of "pride", gay rights, Matt Trav, Mayor Marty Walsh, transgender rights, WCVB-TV | 16 Comments

Day 1986: Make a Difference

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, while I was at a group psychotherapy conference, I saw a sign.

I try to make a difference with this blog. Starting next month, I’ll try to make a difference by becoming President of my local group psychotherapy organization.

Do any of these other photos make a difference for you?

If you’re a writer and an activist, you definitely need stress management tips. I shall do my best to ask others for help, eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, get organized, practice relaxation techniques, and take breaks often, because those all make a difference.

Anthony Bourdain made a difference to many people.

As one of the messages in that video says, “Small acts of kindness can make all the difference. If you are struggling, call 1-800-273-8255.”

Your comments make a difference for me.

Thank you for letting me make a difference here, every day.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: activism, Anthony Bourdain, Frederick Joseph, Gordon Ramsay, here and now, making a difference, Nancy Pelosi, NSGP, Patton Oswalt, stress management techniques, suicide hotline, then and there | 19 Comments

Day 1985: What do you do with an unpleasant person?

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Ann Koplow

What do you do with an unpleasant person?

You could hide,

read a book,

take charge, wear distracting socks,

keep your distance,

take a pause,

drive away, drink tea,

appreciate yourself, honor your soul, give yourself a compliment,

be open to other people’s compliments, be the hero of your own story,

and/or write a song.

Today, I’ll be spending the day with many pleasant people for the first day of a three-day group psychotherapy conference in my pleasant birthplace of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

I look forward to reading your pleasant comments.

Many thanks to all the pleasant cats and people who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: group psychotherapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", "I'd Rather Be in Charge", Charlotte Beers, compliments, dealing with unpleasant people, NSGP conference, Yogi Tea | 27 Comments

Day 1984: 1984

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Ann Koplow

1984 is:

the number of today’s blog post,
the title of today’s blog post,
a 1949 book by George Orwell about a dystopian future,
something I mentioned to Michael yesterday: “It seems more and more like 1984 every day,” and
the subject of a Wikipedia entry that includes this quote:

The introduction to the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt edition of Animal Farm and 1984 (2003) reports that the title 1984 was chosen simply as an inversion of the year 1948, the year in which it was being completed, and that the date was meant to give an immediacy and urgency to the menace of totalitarian rule.

What are your associations with 1984?

I don’t have 1984 photos to share, but I do have these:

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What is the porpoise of this blog post? I believe we have to purposely guard against the kind of totalitarianism George Orwell wrote about in 1984.

Here‘s 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) — Thug Notes Summary and Analysis:

I hope you speak your truth, below.

This is the 1984th time I’ve expressed gratitude here at WordPress:

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Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Cod dish, Diet Coke, Doublespeak, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, shoebox cards, Thug Notes, totalitarianism, Wikipedia description of 1984, Wisecrack Videos, Yogi Tea | 14 Comments

Day 1983: My mind’s a blank

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Ann Koplow

“My mind’s a blank” is a line from the second original song I recently wrote, “Catastrophizing.”

My mind’s a blank when I try to find things to say about these photos I took yesterday:

My mind’s a blank when I try to describe how Michael transforms a blank plate into a lovely feast.

My mind’s a blank when I hear some people’s ideas about how to keep a school safe. Guns? Metal Detectors? Panic buttons? Cameras? Cupcakes?

My mind’s a blank when I

eat too much sugar,
catastrophize,
am really impressed,
get very nervous,
am in pain,
have to deliver a speech,
consider current American politics,
try to meditate,
look at a hostile or disapproving face,
need to fill out a form,
feel overcome by emotions,
wonder what I’m going to blog about in the future,
wonder about the future in general,
don’t get enough sleep,
am about to perform in front of people,
can’t find the right words,
encounter cruelty or stupidity, and
think about people I love who are dying.

When is your mind a blank?

“My Mind’s a Blank” by Wiretaps gets blank reactions on YouTube.

Is your mind a blank here and now? If so, will you leave a blank comment?

Even when a card is blank inside ….

… it can still say “Thank You.”

Thanks to all who help me create these posts even when my mind’s a blank and — of course! — to you, for temporarily blanking out everything else to read this blog.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "My Mind's A Blank", cards at CVS, Catastrophizing, gratitude, mural in Boston, original songs, School Safe cupcakes, tilapia dish, Treasure Mills cupcakes, Trouble Truck, Wiretaps | 22 Comments

Day 1982: Do the math

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Ann Koplow

Let’s do some definitions of “do the math.”

do the math
informal
make a calculation or come to a conclusion based on the relevant facts and figures, typically with the implication that the result is or should be obvious.
“Did closing thirty beds hurt emergency waiting times? You do the math!”

do the math
Loosely means “It’s pretty obvious”
You can have a 20″ TV for $150, or a 30″ for $170. You do the math.
by Judohobo April 07, 2005

How many definitions were that? Do the math. It’s the same number of photos I took yesterday.

Do the math: It’s the same number of siblings in my family of origin (and my dear sister Ellen gave that math t-shirt to my son on National Cheese Day).

It’s the same number of original songs I’ve written during the past month. My first original song had two verses and my new song “Catastrophizing” has four. Do the math!

Now that we’ve done the math, it’s time to do the music.

I did the math and “You Do the Math” by Junior Brown has 159,553 views, 317 thumbs up, 8 thumbs down, and appears on 0 albums at this writing. Also, Junior Brown’s guitar has the same number of necks as the other math in this post. In my 2nd original song, “Catastrophizing,” the line “I’ll break my neck” refers to my own neck and also the neck of my ukulele.

Please do the math and leave a comment, at least to belatedly celebrate National Cheese Day.

Now it’s time to do the thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Do the Math", “You Do the Math”, gratitude, guit-steel double neck guitar, Junior Brown, math t-shirt, National Cheese Day | 8 Comments

Day 1981: Believe

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Ann Koplow

Believe that this is only the second blog post I’ve ever written with “believe” in the title.

Believe that the first one was written EXACTLY three years ago. (I believe this link will get you to that other post.)

Believe that this wondrous coincidence was created by my noticing this yesterday in the back of a car:

Believe that I noticed all these other things yesterday, too.

Believe that yesterday we saw a mango …

… and a cat on a leash on a Massachusetts beach.

Do you believe that it’s always cool to be kind?

I do!

Believe that this is Nick Lowe singing his song:

I believe there will be comments on this post about what you believe.

Believe that I always end these posts with many thanks to all who help me create them and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Cruel to be Kind", "It's always cool to be kind", cat on a leash, coincidences, gratitude, mango on a beach, Nick Lowe, South Shore of Boston, t-shirts, what we believe, what we notice | 19 Comments

Day 1980: Now what?

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Ann Koplow

Now, what happens when you accomplish something? Do you ever ask yourself, “Now what?”

Now what should I do after performing my first original song at an Open Mic? Now what can I do to top that? Now what makes me think I have to top that?

Now what gets in the way of my being here, now, and enjoying all the now has to offer?

Now what photos do I have to show you?

Now what do you do during busy times? Now what do you think I was doing when I took that photo?

Now what wants to be chosen, heard, stuffed, stitched, fluffed, dressed, named, and taken home?

Now what are we fighting about if we are all human?

Now what helps you stay cool? Now what is a museum of ice cream?

Now what kind of person would wear that t-shirt? Now what kind of roll is that?

Now what music does that Meowsic make?

Now what video could I possibly include here?

Meow what video could top that?

Now what are you going to say in a comment?

Now what should I end with, except gratitude for the now, the meows, and YOU?

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "How to make a meowing cat song", Build-a-Bear, Meowsic Keyboard, staying in the moment, Target, the here and now, The Meow Song, The South Shore Plaza, The Wheelhouse Diner | 22 Comments

Day 1979: I love a lot

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Ann Koplow

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.

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", Ann Koplow's first original song, caring scale, Jam'n Java Open Mic, Moving from good to great, people I love, Shining Star Award, The Kickstand Cafe in Arlington Massachusetts, Tufts Medical Center, Yogi Tea | 19 Comments

Day 1978: Resentment

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Ann Koplow

I hope there’s no resentment about today’s topic, which is discussed by Robert Enright, Ph.D. in a Psychology Today online article “Why Resentment Lasts — and How to Defeat it.”

I hope there’s no resentment about my choosing these particular quotes over others from that article:

To psychologists, resentment over a long period of time can be an unhealthy response to injustice.

This kind of resentment can lead to unhappiness, continual irritability, and psychological compromise including excessive anxiety and depression.

I know of one person who, upon having his morning cup of coffee, would replay the injustice and feel the inner strength as a way of getting ready for the day. He did this until he realized that over the long-term, such a routine was leaving him drained before he even left for work

How do I turn off the resentment? What path do I take to have some inner quiet? Taking up jogging might do it……but once you have recovered your energy from the run, the anger returns. How about relaxation training? Same issue: once the muscle relaxation is over, there is the resentment with its perverse smile looking back at you. “I just don’t know how to rid myself of the resentment!” is a cry I hear too often.

Try to see the inner world of the one causing the disturbance.

Commit to doing no harm to the one who is harming you.

Stand in the pain so that you do not pass that pain to innocent others.

To forgive is a way of offering goodness to the one who gave you the unwanted present of resentment.

Which is the better identity: a life lived with an unwanted inner guest or a life free to be a conduit of good toward others and yourself?

Is there any resentment about these photos?