Welcome back to this blog as I experience my welcome back to my home town.
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Welcome back to my usual array of (mostly unexplained) images as I navigate my way through each day.
Welcome back to my usual focus on groups! I was trying to welcome my ex-husband’s new adopted kitty, who is understandably shy. We will welcome back our son Aaron during the holidays. Welcome back to interestingly titled merchandise.
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Welcome back to my constant attempts to get my music out there into the world. Today, I may attend a protest in Cambridge (if I can find it) and welcome people to my song “You Don’t Scare Me.”
When there are too many choices, I have trouble making decisions.
For example, I wasn’t sure how to perform my song about Balint groups at yesterday’s closing of the intensive training in Charleston, South Carolina. The choices were (1) singing the song with a karaoke background, as I do here …
… (2) singing along to that version, or (3) performing it without any accompaniment. I kept going over those choices in my mind, not knowing how to decide, until my friend and fellow group therapist Mary told me the choice was clear. After I performed all three versions for her, she said I should sing the song a capella, keeping my own pace throughout.
Many singers might not choose to perform a song that way, because it’s hard to stay in tune and one’s flaws are totally exposed. However, I agreed with Mary’s choice because I wanted to focus on communicating the words and emotions of my song to passionate people who choose to provide Balint groups to doctors, nurses, therapists, and other treaters.
While I wish I had made the choice to record yesterday’s performance of “What’s It All About, Balint” I can tell you that several people chose to give me a standing ovation. Some chose to tell me they loved the song and hoped I would sing it at future gatherings.
One of the Balint group experts did say, however, that her choice for my performance would have been my original song “Everybody’s Somebody’s Asshole.”
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Her choice surprised me but pleased me nevertheless.
What choice do you have but to look at today’s images (which do include some choices)?
Dog owners in Charlestown often choose shoes like these, perhaps because of the hot pavement. Many others choose to put their dogs in baby carriages. I often choose to take pictures of adorable animals. My photographic choices include relevant signs. My ex-husband, who chose to adopt a shelter cat, is considering choices of cat toys. Our cat Joan always makes the choice of the blue mouse, while Harley likes the fuzzy balls. I chose to take only one photo on the plane ride back to Boston. Because the plane was delayed by hours because of lightening storms, I had no choice for dinner except this delicious concoction created by the man I chose for my second husband. Harley often chooses this spot to relax.
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Every evening, I have to choose a last question of the day.
Please forgive me for any mistakes I make here, as I try to forgive myself for the mistakes I am inevitably making while I navigate this complicated world.
I believe forgiving mistakes is imperative for us to remain present and committed to growth and connection.
While I was forgiving my own and others’ mistakes at an intensive group training yesterday, I had time to capture these images.
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I am forgiving mistakes I made while performing the song I wrote with my friend and fellow social worker Nat Shirley — “Nobody’s Perfect.”
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Thanks to all who are forgiving mistakes, including YOU.
For me, what’s it all about always involves connecting with people, no matter where I am.
When you look at my photos as I am out and about with my friend Mary in Charleston, South Carolina, are you wondering what’s it all about?
I spotted this woman with a great dress at the fountain. When I told her how much I liked it …… she told me what it was all about. Kennedy at Carmella’s was all about great service and smiles. When we asked Kennedy what her favorite dessert there was, she was all about the Cannoli cake. These next photos are all about Charleston City Market. When I asked Zach from Wild Art if I could take pictures, he said “Only if you use flash photography,” which I thought was hilarious. Because it was all about Have an Extra Dessert Day, I had cheesecake AND banana pudding at the Balint group training dinner.
And my question on Twitter was all about favorite desserts.
The Daily Bitch calendar is uncharacteristically all about decency today.
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Even though it’s Be Late for Something Day, I can’t be late to any of the Balint Group intensive training sessions today, which start at 8 AM!
Last night, I was all about sharing my rewritten lyrics for “What’s It All About, Alfie?” for some of my fellow Balint Group trainees.
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Thanks to all who are all about this What’s It All About? post, including YOU!
Over the many years I’ve been blogging, I’ve featured several favorite cities including Edinburgh, Venice, London, San Francisco, Boston (my home), and Charleston, South Carolina.
After having a good day yesterday, I asked a question about a good day on social media.
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Reading those answers already makes this a good day, as I prepare for a flight to Charleston, South Carolina, where I’ve had good days before (here and here).
Do you see a good day in my other images for today?
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No matter what is on the list of Holidays and Observances and even though I’m way past middle age, I plan to have a good day.
This will be a good day despite my being triggered by air travel, as you can hear in this song.
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And it’s a good day even though that YouTube site has only one follower, and it’s me!
Thanks to all those who help me have a good day, including YOU.
Yesterday, I attended the Labor Day protest march in Boston where I saw many signs of the times.
Members of a metal-workers union. Governor Maura Healey!
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I went to the protest with my ukulele, my signs of the times, and a plan to sing my protest songs if I could. However, I got distracted by all the great signs, the competing music, and running into several people I know, including a classmate from college.
However, I played “You Don’t Scare Me” for some organizers of the weekly protest in Cambridge and they loved it, so a sign of the times is that I’ll be attending one of the Cambridge protests in the near future.
Do you see other signs of the times in this blog?
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Here’s what I find when I search for “signs of the times” on YouTube.
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Thanks to all who are here for these signs (and songs) of the times, including YOU!
Getting people’s attention is complicated for me, because I grew up surrounded by mixed messages about that.
My late father loved getting people’s attention with his singing and his humor; my mother preferred not to have people’s attention at all. Also, I was told not to attract the attention of the “evil eye” if I called attention to anything positive, including my accomplishments or hopes. I think Jewish families in the 60s often believed that getting people’s attention was dangerous.
