Monthly Archives: November 2025

Day 4706: Holidays

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Ann Koplow

As a therapist, I know that holidays can be a particularly difficult time for people who have lost loved ones (and most people have lost loved ones).

In my Coping and Healing groups, I’ve been hearing people discuss holiday memories with wistful nostalgia about the past and disappointment about the present. “The holidays just aren’t the same any more.”

As always, all feelings about holidays (and anything else) are welcome.

Last night, I asked a question about holidays on social media.

I like those holidays. I also like the holiday I’ve been taking from the medication Alendronate/Fosomax (although I have trouble remembering whether my doctors call that a holiday or a vacation).

I’d also like to take a holiday or a vacation from worries and judgment.

Do you see holidays in my other images for today?

Here’s the song that’s been playing in my head while I’ve been creating this blog post:

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

I also find this:

Even though that video came up because that TED talk is by somebody named “Holiday,” I am noticing more talk in my groups about mortality as we approach the holidays.

What are your thoughts and feelings about holidays?

Thanks to all who are here for this holidays post, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Alendronate drug holiday, “Holiday” by The Bee Gees, “Memento Mori” by Ryan Holiday, Children’s Grief Awareness Day, K-von TED talk, November 20 2025, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Salem Building, Tufts Dental, Twitter, vegetarian stroganoff | 10 Comments

Day 4705: Have A Bad Day Day

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Happy Have a Bad Day Day, everybody!

I can appreciate any day that encourages people to accept all feelings, including negative ones, and to be authentic.

I am going to celebrate Have a Bad Day Day by (1) presenting to a smaller group of doctors than expected about my facilitating groups for them and (2) going back to see a doctor who, so far, has not been able to help me with the annoying clicking noises I hear whenever I speak.

Many of us have been having more bad days since the last USA presidential election.

In my Coping and Healing group on Monday, we talked about the differences between a good day and a bad day. In yesterday’s group, we talked about the importance of realizing that some days are going to be badder than others.

Here are the rest of my images for Have a Bad Day Day.

Here’s what I find when I search for “have a bad day day.”

Thanks to all who make my bad days better, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter, cats, Cod and noodles dish, coping and healing groups, Nathan W. Pyle Strange Planet cartoon, November 19 2025, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Trump’s downfall, Twitter and Bluesky | 6 Comments

Day 4704: If it can’t be solved

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Whatever it is, if it can’t be solved, I can get frustrated and discouraged.

Yesterday, “it” included ongoing problems with doing notes for my in-person therapy groups, other technology-related problems, the annoying clicking noises in my head when I speak, getting a referral for a visit tomorrow with a doctor about those pesky noises, AND the political situation in the USA.

If it can’t be solved, it helps to write about it here and to share my images for the day.

If it can’t be solved by normal means, some people turn to the occult.

Here’s what I find when I search for “if it can’t be solved” on YouTube:

I also find this:

If it can’t be solved, I am still grateful for YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Buddhism in English, cats, favorite recipes, Find Problem Solve Problem, medical systems, November 18 2025, occult day, salmon dish, TED talk by Ariana Glantz, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, What to do when nothing goes our way | 14 Comments

Day 4703: Putting myself in the picture

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Ann Koplow

In this blog and elsewhere, I try to be thoughtful about how I’m putting myself in the picture.

If I’m putting myself in the picture to the exclusion of others OR if I’m excluding myself too much, I can feel guilt and shame.

Over the years, I’ve tried to let go of shame and guilt about how I’ve been putting myself in the picture.

Let’s see how I’m putting myself in the picture today.

Here’s what I find when I search for “putting myself in the picture” on YouTube.

Finally, I’m putting myself in the picture in my usual way to express gratitude to YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: ChatGPT, duck stew, Duncan Davidson TED talk, Fast food, healthy narcissism, Norma and the Blue Hour by Chris Delyani, November 17 2025, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, why do we hate seeing pictures of ourselves | 12 Comments

Day 4702: Numbers

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Ann Koplow

While my son, Aaron — who is currently working on his PhD in Mathematics —1st expressed a preference for numbers when he was 7, I prefer words.

However, not 2 put 2 fine a point on it b4 I get to the photos I want to share, I need 2 track numbers to stay alive, especially my INR.

For me (who got a mechanical heart valve in 2016), the numbers for my specific target are actually a smaller range (2.7 – 3.5) because I had 1 TIA in 2022 when my INR was 2.4.

Every 2nd 2sday I need to check my INR, and I spend the approximately 15 seconds waiting for the results worrying that my numbers will be below 2.7 and I will need to inject 2 of these a day …

… until my INR goes above 2.8.

Anyway, I don’t enjoy keeping track of those numbers or these numbers these days:

How many people are listening to my music,
How many people are reading my blog,
How many people are answering my posts on Twitter,

especially if the numbers are low, since I then feel I should do something 2 make them higher.

I am now going 2 practice radical acceptance about all my numbers as I share a number of photos I took yesterday. Before I do, I am going 2 ask you 2 guess 2 things: (1) Will there be a higher number of animals photos or food photos? and (2) How many photos will have numbers in them?

Now, let’s see the numbers of World Observances listed for 11/16/25 (written as 16/11/25 in a number of different places).

Both of those lists have 6 items and I have 2 decide which 1 I am going 2 share on social media. As my teacher Mrs. Whitman used 2 say in the 6th grade, “it’s 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other.”

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

Thanks 2 the numbers of people who are here for this numbers post, including YOU!

Categories: heart condition, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: be smart, Brassica restaurant, cats, INR, November 16 2025, The Real (Weird) Way We See Numbers, the South Shore of Boston, TIA, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4701: Shameless

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, when I was interviewed by Sue Marriott for the Therapist Uncensored podcast, we talked about my song “Shameless Appeals for Applause” and how I was shameless.

I don’t usually think of myself as shameless because I am often fighting shame — putting myself out there despite the shame I can easily feel about that.

As I mentioned to Sue during the interview yesterday, when I think of shameless people, it’s usually those narcissistic people who abuse power and harm others. But now I have another association with shameless — it’s working towards feeling less shame so you can put your authentic self out there.

I’m hoping to feel shameless when that podcast becomes available, probably in January.

My new definition of “shameless” also includes forgiving yourself for mistakes (instead of shaming yourself for them).

For example, I forgot to ask my traditional last-question-of-the-day on social media last night. As my shameless husband Michael likes to say, “No harm, no foul.”

I feel shameless about sharing the rest of my images for today.

I’m am shameless enough to say that I am NOT the opposite of talented.

I am so thankful for all who are here for this shameless post, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Shameless Appeals for Applause", cats, Larry Tesler, November 15 2025, self forgiveness, Sue Marriott, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Therapist Uncensored podcast, Twitter, Vitamin K | 10 Comments

Day 4700: I’m doing a podcast before I feel ready

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Today, I am going to be interviewed by Sue Marriott for the podcast Therapist Uncensored and I don’t feel ready. That relates to one of my songs (which I assume we’ll discuss), I Left the House Before I Felt Ready.

When I am doing something new, I don’t feel ready, certain, or sure. But I do it anyway, because I’m probably more ready than I realize.

Instead of getting ready for the podcast (eeek!), I’m ready enough to share my images for today. Ready or not, here they come!

Somehow, the Daily Bitch always seems ready.

Thanks to all who help me feel ready enough for anything, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, duck stew, Loosen Up Lighten Up Day, November 14 2025, Sue Marriott, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist, Therapist Uncensored podcast, Twitter, World Kindness Day | 10 Comments

Day 4699: Intention

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Ann Koplow

My intention was to share the video about intentions I was listening to last night, but I can’t find it now.

While listening to that video, my intention was to fall asleep. When I woke up in the middle of the night, my intention was to get back to sleep, listening to words about intention.

My intention now is to tell you what I remember about that video that helped me feel better:

If my intention comes from a place of anger, confusion, or grasping, that will not help.

If my intention comes from a place of loving-kindness, clarity, and acceptance, that will help.

My intention now is to share my images for the day and get to work on time.

I think we understand the Daily Bitch’s intention.

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

My intention, here and now, is to express my gratitude for YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, duck dish, gratitude, Needham nature walk, November 13 2025, online tarot reading, pizza, TED talk by Vanessa Wideski, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Power of Intention, Twitter | 13 Comments

Day 4698: The Inner Child

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Ann Koplow

People have been talking about the inner child in my Coping and Healing groups, so I just googled “The Inner Child.”

One of my patients gave me a great compliment this week when they said, “Ann is a good friend to my inner child.”

I’ve done my own inner child work in therapy over the years, including EMDR. My inner child is scared about appearing on a podcast this Friday; my adult self knows we will be okay.

Do you see the inner child in my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “the inner child” on YouTube:

Thanks to all those who have an inner child, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: cats, coping and healing groups, EMDR, favorite childhood books, November 12 2025, salmon dish, Sarah Silverman’s “Bedwetter”, TED talk by Gloria Zhang, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Therapist Uncensored | 6 Comments

Day 4697: What’s the problem

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Ann Koplow

When I was working at the hospital yesterday having many problems with the Epic computer system, I saw this sign:

What’s the problem? The problem is that problems with Epic are getting in the way of my getting my work done and that is a trigger for me.

What’s the problem with using music to explain psychological problems?

In my Coping and Healing group yesterday, one of the members said they found my Triggers song very helpful, so I had no problem singing it to the group.

If you have a problem understanding the lyrics “certain movements of eyes” in that song, it refers to EMDR therapy. Because I’ve been having so many problems with technology and I want no problems with my appearance on the Therapist Uncensored podcast this Friday, I have scheduled some EMDR sessions with my therapist.

In my work, I don’t like focusing on problems; I focus on solutions. Therefore, “What’s the problem?” is a question I rarely ask. Nevertheless, what’s the problem with my images for today?