Monthly Archives: May 2026

Day 4878: First Things First

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Because yesterday was Mother’s Day, I’d like to honor my late mother by sharing one of her favorite sayings: First Things First.

First Things First: I sometimes don’t know what first things are, but I do find it very helpful to prioritize.

First Things First: my first things this morning are blogging, checking my INR (which was surprisingly low on Friday), and leaving for my in-person day at the hospital.

First Things First: Here are my images for today.

First Things First: Because I’m on warfarin and have to watch my INR for the rest of my life, I can’t always eat what I want (even on Eat What You Want Day), but I could eat a Hostess Cupcake.

On National Women’s Check-up Day, I will be checking my INR momentarily, but first things first.

The last thing in this first-things-first blog post is my gratitude to YOU.

————

P.S. First things last: My INR was perfect.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Consumed By Fire, Eat What You Want Day, INR, May 11 2026, music, National Women’s Check-up Day, planning a trip to Switzerland, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4877: Adventures

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Ann Koplow

After recently returning from adventures in Spain, I enjoyed yesterday’s adventures, which included reconnecting with my life-long friend Barbara for our annual birthdays celebration.

On Brunch for Lunch Day, Barbara and I shared our adventures in the worlds of medical issues, family, architecture, travel, childhood, and adulthood.

I told Barbara about my adventures in Spain and my possible solo adventures in Europe this September.

Sharing adventures with supportive friends like Barbara helps me feel braver for all the adventures ahead.

What adventures do you see in my images for today?

We never know what adventures the day will bring. For example, when my intuition told me to ask that question about intuition last night, I had no idea that today was Trust Your Intuition Day.

I look forward to sharing adventures with my son and other family member this evening on a video call.

Here’s what I find when I search for adventures on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are here for my daily adventures, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Bar ‘Cino, Brunch for Lunch Day, Callum Fairhurst TED talk, cats, friendship, How to make everyday an adventure, intuition, Le Madeline Restaurant, May 10 2026, Trust Your Intuition Day, Twitter | 7 Comments

Day 4876: Inspiring

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday’s word of the day means “inspiring.”

That is NOT inspiring me to use the word “psychagogic” when I mean “inspiring,” because I want to be understood.

Do you see anything inspiring in my images for today?

My INR was surprisingly low yesterday morning, but I responded wisely without panicking, which is inspiring.

The warmer weather is inspiring me to take Joan outside.

My inspiring husband is planting many new things this year, including spinach.

My family is very inspiring and nice.

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

Thanks to all the inspiring ones in my life, including YOU!

Categories: definition, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, ChatGPT, Grit: Power of Passion and Perseverance, INR, May 9 2026, TED talk by Angela Lee Duckworth, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 6 Comments

Day 4875: Distraction

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I hope it’s no mere distraction to start this distraction blog post with a definition and quotes.

Do you see distraction in my images for today?

Look, a donkey with no socks in the public garden, eating an empanada, a coconut cream pie, and a cupcake!

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

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

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Defeating Distraction & amplifying awareness, Diane Keaton memoir, May 8 2026, Mindfulness TED talk by Richard Chambers, quotes about distraction, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 7 Comments

Day 4874: Engagement

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Ann Koplow

For months, I’ve been struggling to get engagement with my music on Twitter/X, trying different strategies and posting techniques.

Yesterday, rather than sharing a link outside Twitter/X, I included a video of a performance within the post and I got much more engagement.

Here’s the engagement-producing video…

… and the engagement-producing post (with comments).

It’s funny to me that I finally figured out how to get more engagement with my music on the same day that I resolved to shift my focus of engagement from my original songs to writing an article about my therapy groups.

My focus of engagement may shift, but I remain committed to meaningful and sustaining engagement, every day.

Do you see engagement in my other images for today?

The Daily Bitch has her own style of engagement.

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

Thanks to all who engage in this engagement blog, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", Alan Heap TED talk, beverages of choice, cats, It’s Engagement You Fool!, May 7 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4873: The Struggle is Over

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, in a Coping and Healing Group, one of the members shared a new, helpful mantra:

The struggle is over.

People immediately responded to that, discussing how it got them out of a victim- or fear-based perspective. We talked about how “the struggle is over” didn’t discount challenges or past trauma; instead, it refocused on empowerment and strengths rather than on helplessness and negatives.

We also talked about how today’s Daily Bitch Calendar was a funny commentary on “The Struggle is Over.”