Monthly Archives: February 2022

Day 3336: The best thing

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Ann Koplow

The best thing I can report this morning is that I did my presentation about group therapy yesterday and, despite my fears, it went very well.

The best thing for me would be to have faith in my ability to give good presentations about groups, but somehow I always find a way to worry about them. Maybe that’s because communicating effectively about something I love is important to me. And the possibility of failure is scary.

The best thing would be for me to know that I don’t have to be the best thing to be valuable. I hope that other people realize that too, including Mikaela Shiffrin.

What’s the best thing in my blog post today?

The best thing is that I can celebrate what’s unique about me on National Battery Day — I’ve been kept alive by batteries in cardiac pacemakers for almost 60 years!

Joan is the best thing for all of us, no matter what she does or doesn’t do.

Here’s a Stephen Sondheim song that’s been running through my head the last few days — “The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened to Me.”

The best thing would be to see your comment about this post!

The best thing to end this blog post with is my gratitude for YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened to Me", cardiac pacemakers, cats, Mikaela Shiffrin, National Battery Day, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, vegetarian American Chop Suey | 19 Comments

Day 3335: What’s annoying

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Ann Koplow

What’s annoying me, here and now, is that I need to do a presentation about groups this morning via ZOOM, and I don’t think my presentation is very good.

What’s annoying is that sometimes we have to do things that are outside our comfort zone.

What’s annoying to me is that life is short, and there are SO MANY things I’d rather be doing right now than presenting or worrying about my presentation.

Can you see what’s annoying about my images for today?

What’s annoying to me is that National Cabbage Day is on the same day as National Random Acts of Kindness Day.

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

What’s annoying is when people forget to express gratitude, so thanks to you for visiting my blog today!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Annoying Orange: What’s in the box?, cat rules, cats, February 2022, gratitude, National Days February 17, National Random Acts of Kindness Day, Stephen Hawking quote, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 21 Comments

Day 3334: Wasting Time

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Ann Koplow

Today’s blog title is inspired by today’s Daily Bitch Calendar.

I have been wasting time this week, worrying about my presentation on groups tomorrow morning. Worrying is always a waste of time and I do have that covered.

I would like to stop wasting my time on worrying and to spend my time on more productive things, like ….. anything else besides worrying.

Here are some quotes about wasting time:

I hope you enjoy wasting time with me and the rest of my images for today.

In order to celebrate National Do A Grouch A Favor Day, I am going to do grouchy me a favor by not worrying any more and also by sharing this video:

One of my favorite wastes of time is collecting expressions of gratitude, so thanks to all who help me blog every day, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: cats, favorite photos, Favorite Waste of Time, groups, Letting go of worry, Marshall Crenshaw, National Do A Grouch A Favor Day, Skeleton Dolls, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 14 Comments

Day 3333: Obsessions

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Ann Koplow

Because I’m obsessed with interesting numbers, I’m noticing that this is the 3333rd day I’ve been blogging.

Because I’m obsessed with the healing power of groups, I’m working on a presentation about group work for my co-workers at a Boston teaching hospital.

Because I’m obsessed with communicating clearly and effectively, I’m driving myself a little crazy as I’m preparing this. At this point, I’m obsessed with this thought: “I wish I had said NO when they asked me to do the presentation!”

Because I’m obsessed with interesting quotes, here are some quotes about obsession.

Do you see obsessions in my other images for today?

None of my obsessions are on that list of National Days, so I will celebrate this precious day however I choose.

Because I’m obsessed with sharing music or videos that fit the blog post, here’s Toto singing “I miss the rains down in Africa.”

Because I’m obsessed with gratitude, thanks to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: "Africa", cats, letting go of perfectionism, macaroni and cheese, pistachio nuts, quotes about obsessions, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Toto, Twitter | 14 Comments

Day 3332: What we can and can’t control

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Ann Koplow

I can’t control what other people have said about control. However, I can control which quotes I choose to include in this post.

Last night, I asked this question about what we can’t and can control on Twitter:

Many responded that they could not control what other people did, but they could control their reactions to other people.

Is control an issue in the rest of my images for today?

I can’t control what the National Days are, but I can control how I choose to celebrate this day.

Here’s “Cruise Control” by the Dregs.

I can’t control what comments you’re going to leave, but I can control my responses to them.

I can’t control how grateful I am, but I can control how I express that gratitude to you!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: “Cruise Control”, gratitude, National Days for February 14 2022, quotes about control, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the Dregs, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 3331: What’s your favorite image in this blog post?

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Ann Koplow

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “What’s your favorite image?”

I also found this:

What’s your favorite image of gratitude in this blog post?

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: 11 Optical Illusions That’ll Reveal Your Personality Type, Bright Side, Cannoli Stout, cats, favorite vehicles, gratitude, My Favorite Picture of You, pot roast stroganoff, preferences, the South Shore of Boston, Wille Nelson | 19 Comments

Day 3330: Safe Spaces

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Ann Koplow

As I prepare another presentation about therapy groups, I know I need to talk about how to make safe spaces for people within a group, so that they’ll feel safe enough to share important thoughts and feelings.

Do you see any safe spaces in my images for today?

I’ll probably spend Global Movie Day in a safe space reading my birthday present — the wonderful autobiography of the amazing Mel Brooks (who’s aging like fine wine).

Here’s Joan in some safe spaces:

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “safe spaces.”

I hope the comments section, below, is a safe space for you to express any reactions you have to this “safe spaces” post.

Thanks to all who help make spaces safe, including YOU.

Categories: life during the pandemic, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “In My Safe Space”, banana bread, coping and healing groups, fetching cat, Global Movie Day, Mel Brooks’s “All About Me!”, South Park, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 13 Comments

Day 3329: Special talents

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Ann Koplow

I think we all have special talents, and what I love about watching the Olympics is witnessing special talents other people have.

Last night, I dreamed I was snowboarding the half pipe, doing somersaults and other incredible tricks!

Shaun White and I share a special talent: we’ve both survived and thrived after being born with serious heart conditions.

I have a special talent for including links in these blog posts, so please click on the paragraph above for more information about the incredible Shaun White.

Can you find special talents in my images for today?

It takes a special talent to celebrate every day.

This is what I find when I search YouTube for “special talents.”

What’s your special talent?

One of my special talents is expressing gratitude, so thanks to all who help me create these daily blogs, including YOU.

Categories: heart condition, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Beacon Hill Dental Associates, cats, gratitude, half pipe snowboarding, MAD LAB, National Days February 11 2022, salmon dish, Shaun White, Tetralogy of Fallot, The Daily Bitch Calendar | 7 Comments

Day 3328: Ideaphoria

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Ann Koplow

In the 1980’s, when I was trying to find a career that was a good match for my abilities and interests, I took a series of aptitude tests at Johnson O’Connor and discovered that I scored very high in ideaphoria. Do you have any idea what ideaphoria means?