Monthly Archives: December 2021

Day 3277: What I’ve been writing

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Ann Koplow

What I’ve been writing includes several new songs, like “Spoiler Alert” and “Forgettable.” What I’ve been writing for song lyrics over the years usually reflects my optimistic nature; however, these are the darker words I’ve been writing this morning:

I’m Afraid to Look

I’m afraid to look at the ocean for fear that it’s dying

I’m afraid to look at the earth but I can’t look away.

I’m afraid to look at myself in the mirror

And afraid to look at my friends for what their faces might say.

Perhaps what I’ve been writing for that song is influenced by the darkness of the winter solstice and by what others are writing about the future.

What I’ve been writing also includes these Tweets:

What I’m writing could never compare to the stories people are discussing on that Twitter thread about stories they liked when they were kids. But as I’ve written on this blog many times, comparisons are the most toxic of all the cognitive distortions (which I’ve written about, here).

What I’m writing, here and now, is this blog post, so it’s time to share my latest photos.

What the Daily Bitch is writing there reminds me of the series “Landscapers,” which has some of the best writing for any television show I’ve seen.

A search for “What I’ve been writing” on YouTube yields this TED talk about reading and writing.

I hope that what you’ve been writing includes a comment, below. And whether it does or doesn’t, many thanks for all who read what I’ve been writing, including YOU!

Categories: climate change, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “What reading slowly taught me about writing”, cognitive distortions, comparisons, flounder with Dijon and apricot sauce, important stories, Jacqueline Woodson, Landscapers, Ted Talk, Twitter, Winter Solstice 2021 | 14 Comments

Day 3276: Voices

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Ann Koplow

So many have voiced profound thoughts about voices, including these:

Do you see (or hear) voices in my other images for today?

In honor of Go Caroling Day, here are many voices performing “Carol of the Bells.”

I look forward to hearing your voices in the comments section below.

I hope you hear the voices of gratitude from me, every time you visit this daily blog.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: “Carol of the Bells”, Ensign Symphony, gratitude, Jennifer Thomas, Joe Manchin, National Go Caroling Day, quotes about voices, The Daily Bitch Calendar, voices you love to hear, Yogi Tea | 20 Comments

Day 3275: Unforgettable lines

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Last night, I asked a question about unforgettable lines on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, I had noticed unforgettable lines in a story about CNN’s 2021 Hero of the Year, Shirley Raines, whose non-profit Beauty 2 the Streetz (which she started after her young son died) provides food, clothing, beauty services, and other nourishment to the homeless in Los Angeles.

“You don’t need to be whole to be the missing piece in others’ lives” is profoundly unforgettable.

Do you see unforgettable lines in my other images for today?

In the midst of adding those images to this blog post, I stopped to create (I hope!) unforgettable lines for a new original song, “Forgettable.”

I think there are many unforgettable lines in Paul Simon’s song “The Cool, Cool River” including “sometimes even music cannot substitute for tears.”

I’m looking forward to unforgettable lines from you in the comments section, below, and I hope my gratitude for you is unforgettable!

Categories: life during the pandemic, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “The Cool Cool River”, Beauty 2 the Streetz, CNN’s Hero of the Year 2021, healing, Joan the cat, Paul Simon, Shirley Raines, Twitter, unforgettable lines from songs, Whole Foods Market | 11 Comments

Day 3274: Should you worry?

Posted on December 18, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Should you worry that I took this photo at Quarry Hills Animal Hospital yesterday?

Should you worry that this blogger believes that worry never helps anybody? As I’ve discussed in this blog many times, worry wastes energy, takes us out of the moment, and distracts us from the awareness we need in order to react effectively to obstacles and problems.

Should you worry about these quotes about worry?

I have to admit that I’ve been worrying about our cat Joan’s recurring ear infections (which she’s had since we adopted her in August). Because I often assume the worst, I worried that her ear infections had come back for a fourth time, indicating that she had a food allergy.

Should I have worried about that? In case you haven’t noticed, the answer to that question is always NO. Worry never helps.

Also, the vet told us yesterday that both her ears look great. So I’m no longer worrying about doing a food trial with her, which sounded like it would be quite the trial for all of us.

Should you worry about any of these other images?

Should you worry about the Daily Bitch?

Should you worry about this video?

Should you worry about where to comment, please comment below.

Should you worry about whether I’ll express gratitude for all those who help me create my daily blog posts?

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Do You Hear What I Hear?", Christmas 2021, food allergies in cats, gratitude, Letting go of worry, Pentatonix, Quarry Hills Animal Hospital, quotes about worry, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Whitney Houston | 8 Comments

Day 3273: What feels left unfinished?

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Ann Koplow

At the end of every group I facilitate, I ask people what feels left unfinished, so they can get a good enough sense of closure for the group session.

I finished my day yesterday by asking this question on Twitter:

Everything can feel left unfinished, because we are all in the middle of our journeys through life. I think the best we can do is to celebrate whatever closures we can attain.

My blog posts feel left unfinished to me until I share my other images for the day.

It looks like the Daily Bitch is finished with people.

One thing that feels left unfinished to me is an explanation about our cat Joan’s recurring ear infections. Today I am taking her to the vet and am hoping for some closure about that.

These posts feel left unfinished until I share some relevant music.

I love this comment on YouTube about Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony:

Of, course my blog posts feel left unfinished until I express thanks to all who help me create them, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: annual check up, cats, Dr. Laura K. Snydman, gratitude, milk and cookies for Santa donut, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, stress reduction, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Tufts Medical Center, Yogi Tea | 12 Comments

Day 3272: Animals

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Hello, fellow animals! I’m starting out today’s blog post with some quotes about animals.

As you can tell by my greeting above, I’m thinking of humans as animals today, but this animal still loves those quotes.

Here’s a poem I love about animals:

How many different animals can you find in today’s animal blog post?

In respect for National Barbie and Barney Backlash Day, I won’t include a song by that purple dinosaur. Instead, here’s a song by the Turtles …

… and Sting’s “Language of Birds” (which Spotify tells me I listened to many times this year).

This animal is grateful for all animals, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Wild Geese", “Happy Together”, Christmas decorations, gratitude, Mary Oliver, quotes about animals, Sting’s “Language of Birds”, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Turtles, Twitter, Women Who Run with the Wolves | 16 Comments

Day 3271: How to wake up without dread

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Ann Koplow

This morning I woke up without dread, and I don’t dread telling you that I’m not sure how that happened. After so many dreadful and dread-filled times, dread was not there today when I opened my eyes.

Even though I can’t really explain in this blog post how to wake up without dread, I can speculate why this happened this morning. Perhaps it’s because:

I’m reading “Radical Acceptance” by Tara Brach,
I’m realizing AGAIN that dread, worry, guilt, and shame do not help,
I feel ready for the Open Mic on Friday because I figured out how to play a favorite Sondheim song on the ukulele,
I listened to my year-end round-up of music on Spotify and music always helps,
I connected with so many wonderful people on-line and in person yesterday and wonderful people always help,
I went outside for several walks and walking outside always helps,
I expressed vulnerability,
I reached out for help and support,
my subconscious is finally figuring out, after almost 69 years on this planet, that I have so many blessings, here and now.

Do you see any tips on how to wake up without dread in my images for today?

Actually, now that I’m looking at that Daily Bitch Calendar, dread is creeping back in.

I let go of dread many times this year by listening to “Don’t Break the Rules” from the Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can.

These lyrics help me let go of dread:

I guess the constitution, boys, to some is too complex.

They think our founding fathers fought so they could forge some checks.

Perhaps I can wake up without dread if I believe that justice is coming someday.

Gratitude definitely helps me wake up without dread, so thanks to all who are visiting here at some point after waking up, including you!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “Don’t Break the Rules”, Catch Me If You Can, gratitude, letting go of dread, radical acceptance, Spotify, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the healing power of music, the South Shore of Boston, Time’s Person of the Year | 16 Comments

Day 3270: What I’m waiting for

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Ann Koplow

What I’m waiting for includes:

the next step to repair the damage to our home caused by a leak in the upstairs shower,
an in-person appointment with my Primary Care Physician on Thursday,
an appointment with a veterinarian on Friday to find out if Joan’s ear infections have come back,
information on how to deal with food allergies if Joan’s ear infections have come back,
a decision about what song I should sing Friday evening for my first open mic in months (candidates include a new original song and a Sondheim song),
Christmas and New Year,
finding out where my son will be attending a PhD program in mathematics next year,
the end of the pandemic,
justice for all, and
your thoughts and feelings about the contents of today’s post.

I’m also waiting for inspiration to finish my latest original song — “Spoiler Alert” — which includes rhymes like toxicity, authenticity, and epiphany. Here’s a Sondheim tune I might sing on Friday instead of “Spoiler Alert”:

Now, of course, I’m waiting for your comments.

If you’re waiting for my thanks to you, wait no longer!

Categories: life during the pandemic, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Pretty Women", cats, Eleri Ward, gratitude, hospitals, Longwood Medical Area, salmon and cous cous, Stephen Sondheim, waiting, Yogi Tea | 17 Comments

Day 3269: Do you want to have a conversation?

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, I asked our talkative cat Joan, “Do you want to have a conversation?”

According to the definition …

… maybe “conversation” is the wrong word. However, I seem to be having conversations with many non-people these days, including conversations like these:

Do you want to have a conversation about what it’s like to have those kinds of conversations for months and months? Or do you want to have a conversation about my other images for today?

Do you want to have a conversation about the conversation that the Daily Bitch is describing today? Or do you want to have a conversation about the Stephen Sondheim song I quoted in my Twitter conversation?

I love the way that Audra McDonald, Christine Baranski, and Meryl Streep are having conversations with each other and with Stephen Sondheim during his 90th birthday celebration in 2020.

Do you want to have a conversation with other people in this blog? If so, please leave a comment, below.

Do you want to have a conversation about gratitude? I do! Thanks to all who are reading this conversational blog post, including YOU.

Categories: definition, life during the pandemic, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Audra McDonald, “The Ladies Who Lunch”, Christine Baranski, COVID symptoms, Meryl Streep, Stephen Sondheim, Stop & Shop, talkative cats, The Daily Bitch Calendar | 17 Comments

Day 3268: There’s a place for us

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, there was a place for us to see Stephen Spielberg’s West Side Story, with Leonard Bernstein’s incredible music and a young Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, including “There’s a place for us.”

There’s a place for us to share the beautiful song “Somewhere” (and that place is here).

The place where the PPAS choir is singing “Somewhere” in that video is New York’s Lincoln Center, a place whose construction is displacing the characters in Spielberg and Tony Kushner’s version of West Side Story.

There’s a place for me to write that I loved the movie, except for (SPOILER ALERT!*) the decision to take “there’s a place for us” and Somewhere away from the young lovers Maria and Tony.

There’s a place for this excerpt from Tasha Robinson’s West Side Story review:

There’s a place for us to see all my images for today.

There’s a place for us to celebrate those National Days, or anything else we choose to observe every day. There’s a place for us to find out what National Ding-a-Ling Day is, and that place is here.

Also, there’s a place for our cats, and that seems to be wherever they want.

There’s a place for you to leave a comment about this blog post, below.

There’s always a place for us to express gratitude to all those we appreciate, including YOU.

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* Here’s the place for me to share that I’ve been meaning to get back to songwriting and there’s a place somewhere that I’ve stored the lyrics and the tune for one of my unfinished pieces, “SPOILER ALERT!”