As a psychotherapist, I often tell my patients that comparing ourselves to others leads to dissatisfaction. At the same time, comparing is a way we understand the world.
For example, our cat Harley is much more nervous than our cat Joan — a comparison that helps us be more effective when we bring them both to the vet.
Do you see comparing in today’s images?
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I am comparing myself to the Daily Bitch and I’m happy with the comparison.
How do you think my latest song compares to others?
Comparing that to my other songs, I’ve decided to include it in my concert/fundraiser tomorrow.
Thanks to all my incomparable readers, including YOU!
It’s interesting that a common saying (to me, anyway, Ann) when we find something great, is “there’s no comparison.”
Thanks for another incomparable comment, my friend.
comparing and contrasting helps me to make decisions on some things. weighing out the positives/negatives
Definitely, beth!
Are you an English teacher, Beth? Compare and contrast these elements in this paragraph, etc. The Tolkien Professor (an English teacher at one time) uses c&c quite a lot. I have given up checking my stats in Wordle, Ann. I don’t mind finishing in 5 or 6. It means I did a lot of research on the possibilities. And I remember taking my big orange cat Razz to the vet. As soon as we got into the exam room, and he was let go, he would immediately open one of the lower cabinet drawers and hide himself inside. It was his superpower.
Thanks for comparing and contrasting, Barbara.
I’ve never forgotten learning that similes and metaphors in poetry are used to make comparisons. But I never felt the comparisons were really equal. In Le Chants de Maldoror a young man is described as being “as beautiful as the chance meeting of an umbrella and a sewing machine on an operating room table”. And Gertrude Stein made a great comparison when she said “A rose is a rose is a rose.” I don’t want to compare them but those are two of my favorite comparisons.
Thanks for another unforgettable comment, my incomparable friend.
I hope your concert tomorrow goes wonderfully, Ann! I am so excited for you and your audience.
You asked who we would like to see interview Kamala Harris and I agree with the person who said Stephen Colbert, but I think you and Aaron together would do a great job. It is a good idea to get the perspective of more than one generation.
Michael’s cooking looks delicious, as usual!
Thanks for your incomparable support, my friend.
With regards to AI’s role in our life I see a similar pattern of comparisons. This leads to fears in some people I work with, e.g. “AI is better at X than me, so I must get much better at X or just quit.” But the point is to focus on the differences and then find ways to complement each. There are so many things where we are better than machines and vice versa (e.g., we’re great at intuition, empathy etc.; machines are great at number crunching etc.) The trick is to combine the two meaningfully.