Monthly Archives: May 2023

Day 3793: It’s not the end of the world

Posted on May 21, 2023 by Ann Koplow

“It’s not the end of the world” is something I like to say to myself and others in response to the very common cognitive distortion of catastrophizing.

It’s not the end of the world if we

make a mistake,
say the wrong thing,
have lapses of memory,
don’t show up for something,
don’t get what we want, or
lose somebody (although that can feel like the end of the world).

Of course, if too many of us do nothing to save our endangered world, that could mean the end of the world in the future. However, it’s not the end of the world today, even if today is End of the World or Rapture Party Day.

It’s not the end of the world if I have only a few images to share with you today.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “it’s not the end of the world.”

It’s not the end of the world and I’m grateful for that and for you!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Catastrophizing, Emilio Navaira, End of the World and Rapture Party Day, flowers, gratitude, May 21 2023, plants, preserving our world | 10 Comments

Day 3792: Dedicated

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, I was one of the speakers when a building was dedicated to and named for my dedicated cardiologist, Dr. Deeb Salem.

My dedicated readers know what a great doctor Deeb Salem is, because I’ve dedicated space in many blog posts to him (including this, this, and this).

Dedicated as I am to clear communication, I regret that the picture and sound in this video of my speech are fuzzy.

I hope you can tell how dedicated Dr. Deeb Salem and I are to each other. Many people dedicated to him told me they were also crying during my speech, which “perfectly captured Deeb.”

As usual, I’m dedicated to sharing more images from my daily life with you.

I guess I’ll be celebrating Do Dah Day, because I’m also dedicated to silliness.

Dedicated thanks to all who helped me write this dedicated post, including Dr. Salem and YOU!

Categories: gratitude, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston, cats, dedicated doctors, dedication of The Salem Building at Tufts Medical Center, Do Dah Day, Dr. Deeb Salem, May 20 2023, puns, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 15 Comments

Day 3791: Speeches

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Today, I’ll be one of several people making speeches about my wonderful cardiologist, Dr. Deeb Salem, who is having a building named after him.

I haven’t made too many speeches in my life, but I have a lot to say about Dr. Salem, who has been my cardiologist for over forty years. It’s been difficult for me to keep to the five-minute time limit for all the speeches today. If I just read all the blog posts I’ve written here about Dr. Salem (including this, this, and this) that might take up the time of the whole ceremony!

I get nervous about making speeches but I’ll try not to let that show. Also, I’ll probably be rewriting that speech until the moment I have to give it.

Because the speeches aren’t being formally recorded, I’ll try to get somebody to capture my speech today so I can share it with you tomorrow.

Let’s see if there is any material for speeches in the rest of today’s post.

If I were giving the Daily Bitch’s short speech today, I would probably change “Sometimes I wish I was a dog” to “Sometimes I wish I were a dog,” but I’m not going to give a speech about using the subjunctive.

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

In speeches and blog posts, I like to end with gratitude, so thanks to all who help me live my best life, including Dr. Salem and YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Chris Anderson, Dr. Deeb Salem, gratitude, May 19 2023, public speaking, TED’s secret to great public speaking, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the subjunctive, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 3790: What therapists don’t say

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ann Koplow

I just read a New York Times article titled “What Therapists Don’t Say.” There seems to be some fascination with that — the premise of the TV show Shrinking is that “a grieving therapist starts to break the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks.”

What I don’t say, in an individual therapy session, includes

You think that’s bad? Let me tell you about my problems!
I’m distracted.
I’m afraid you really don’t want to change.
You should do this.
I don’t think I can help you.
I wish I were doing something else.
That hurts my feelings.
I have to pee (this one was mentioned in the New York Times article).

I don’t say any of those things because (1) they are passing, momentary thoughts and (2) unhelpful. Also, when I have a thought that I don’t say, I take it as important information — often a window into what the other person is feeling.

Do you see anything that therapists don’t say in my images for today?

Sometimes I do say a World Holiday or what the Daily Bitch says in a therapy session, if it’s relevant.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what therapists don’t say.”

Now I’m wondering what you would say in the comments section, below.

Here’s something I say every day:

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: “3 Things Your Therapist Doesn’t Tell You”, Dr. Kristie Overstreet, gratitude, Kurt Vonnegut, May 18 2023, musicals, Shrinking, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the New York Times, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 3789: Karma

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Do you know what karma is?

Each action creates a certain memory and I am certain that there is karma in my other images for today.

I’m not sure what karma the Daily Bitch is creating there but I sometimes throw pillows when I’m pissed.

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

Thanks to all who create good karma, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “The 12 Laws Of Karma That Will Change Your Life”, boats, Brainy Dose, cats, gratitude, May 17 2023, salmon dish, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, trees, Twitter | 13 Comments

Day 3788: Still

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Since watching it the day it came out last Friday, I’m still thinking about Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

Here’s a quote from the NPR review of Still by Eric Deggans:

The word “still” has so many meanings and the movie Still evokes all of them.

Michael J. Fox, by his own report, was never able to keep still when he was growing up. He is still living with a disease that makes it impossible for his body to keep still. His wife, Tracy Pollan, is still incredibly honest and wonderful and all his family members still support each other lovingly. While Parkinson’s is unstoppably degenerative, still, Michael J. Fox is living his best possible life.

I still have other still images to share with you before I start my work (which I still love) in 30 minutes.

I’m still hoping for peace, so I shall wear purple today.

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

I still have to thank all those who helped me create this “still” blog post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Eric Deggans, May 16 2023, Parkinson’s Disease, pollock dish, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Longwood Medical area, Tracy Pollan, Twitter | 19 Comments

Day 3787: Personal growth

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Personal growth is my game and Ann Koplow is my name. As a matter of fact, I’ve tagged every blog post I’ve written here with the category “personal growth” (the other constant tagged category is “photojournalism”).

Today, the Daily Bitch has something to say about personal growth.

One aspect of my personal growth has been embracing my inner Daily Bitch. And while I have not had enough of personal growth (if that were true, I wouldn’t return back to work today as an individual and group psychotherapist), I do want to join with the Daily Bitch declaring that I don’t HAVE to do any more personal growth work on myself. As I blogged here when I turned 70, I’ve worked very hard at many things (including personal growth) my whole life, and now it’s time to relax, coast, and not work so hard.

Of course, I’m open to all the personal growth that happens naturally if one is open to change and difference. And I’m 100% there for my patients’ personal growth.

Do you see personal growth in any of my other images for today?

There’s a lot on YouTube about personal growth, including this:

Thanks to all who join me in personal growth, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: 4 signs of personal growth and development, books, May 15 2023, outdoor plants, Psych2go, self-care, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, therapy, Twitter | 12 Comments

Day 3786: I have no idea

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Ann Koplow

I have no idea how I’m going to convey, in a speech I’m giving on Friday, how special and important my cardiologist Dr. Deeb Salem is. Actually, I probably don’t have to convince my audience about how special and important he is, because they’re naming a building at Tufts Medical Center after him and that’s why he asked me to give the speech.

Whenever anybody (including myself) uses the phrase “I have no idea” I think about a psychologist at my first student internship who always responded with this: “You must have some idea.” And, indeed I do have some idea about how to talk about how great Dr. Salem is. My problem is I have too many ideas, because he’s been my cardiologist for over 40 years, helping me live my best life while reaching the ripe old age of 70.

I was about to say I have no idea how to use all the images I have for you today into a cohesive enough blog post, but I must have some idea.

I have no idea what Mother’s Day is going to be like this year. Wait, I must have some idea. I’m sure to hear from my son, Aaron, who coincidentally has the same birthday as Dr. Salem. I have some idea that if it weren’t for Dr. Salem, neither Aaron nor I would be here today.

I have no idea what the best Stevie Wonder song is, but I have some idea about which one I’ve listened to the most. It’s either this one…

… or this one:

I have no idea how to adequately express gratitude to all who help me meet every new day as best I can.

As usual, I had some idea.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Signed Sealed Delivered", “All I Do”, cats, dogs, Dr. Deeb Salem, Hyde Park Avenue, living with a congenital heart condition, May 14 2023, Mother's Day, Stevie Wonder, Twitter | 13 Comments

Day 3785: What makes me happy

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Ann Koplow

What makes me happy includes

my family,
getting to do work I love,
living near the water,
being healthy and pain-free at my age, and
friends like Barbara.

Yesterday, it made me happy to spend the day with Barbara in my old stomping grounds of Belmont, Massachusetts. Barbara and I shared what makes us happy — including our both making it to age 70, realizing it’s okay for us to coast after working so hard in our lives, and appreciating that we are both in each other’s inner circle of important connections after over 65 years of friendship!

Can you see what makes me happy in my other images for today?

Migratory birds make me happy, including snowy egrets.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what makes me happy.”

What makes you happy?

Thanks to all those who make me happy, including YOU!

Categories: friendship, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: age, “What Makes You Happy: 0 - 100”, Belmont Massachusetts, International Migratory Bird Day, May 13 2023, pets, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, Westcott Mercantile | 12 Comments

Day 3784: Awareness

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Until today, I wasn’t aware of this amazing quote about awareness:

My awareness tells me there are pros and cons of everything, including empathy.

When a surprising and upsetting poll about the 2024 USA presidential election was brought to my awareness yesterday, it focused my awareness on the negative. However, my awareness that it is now 2023, not 2024, helped broaden my awareness.

Do you see awareness in the rest of my images for today?

Because of my family’s awareness of Mother’s Day and also scheduling conflicts for this Sunday, they took me out for dinner last night, but I didn’t have the awareness to take any photos. Instead, I was focusing on the awareness of how lucky I am to have these people I love in my life.

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