Monthly Archives: August 2026

Day 4970: Relax

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Ann Koplow

It’s difficult to relax in this nerve-wracking world.

I relax by spending time with kind people in real life, movies, and books. I also relax by looking at nature and cats and by practicing mindfulness.

When wake up in the middle of the night, I relax and go back to sleep by listening to a video like this:

I’m going to share that video with one of my self-critical patients; I hope it helps them relax.

Try to relax as you look at my images for today.

It’s difficult to relax on Presidential Joke Day when we have such a joke of a President.

Now that I’ve finished this daily blog, I can relax and express my thanks to YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 11 2026, Boston Ferry, healthy meals, Presidential Joke Day, relaxing things to do in Lucerne, Sleepy Monk video, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, tomatoes from the garden, Twitter and Bluesky, ways to relax | 8 Comments

Day 4969: Book Lovers

Posted on August 10, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I’ve been a book lover since I was very young and I love talking to other book lovers about books they love.

Because there are so many books for us book lovers to love, it’s difficult for me to set priorities about which book to love next.

There are many books and book lovers in my blog post for today.

Here’s what I find when I look for “book lovers” on YouTube.

I love listening to that book lover.

Thanks to all who are here for this book lovers blog, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Anuradha Ananth-Huggler TED talk, August 10 2026, Book Butterflies: How reading transforms us, cats, Libby, National Book Lovers Day, quesadillas, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the importance of reading, Twitter and Bluesky | 6 Comments

Day 4968: Priorities

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Ann Koplow

My priority when I wake up every morning is to create a blog post for me and you.

In therapy, we often discuss how to identify, sort, and accomplish priorities.

One of my ongoing priorities is to do whatever I can to help enact political change in the USA.

Let’s see what priorities we can find in this blog post.

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

As always, one of my priorities is expressing my gratitude to YOU!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 9 2026, Brassica restaurant, cats, Halloween stuff already?!, How to Prioritize Tasks at Work, most recently bought item, Phillips Chocolates, Twitter and Bluesky, Vihan Challiah | 9 Comments

Day 4967: Literally

Posted on August 8, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Did I use the word “literally” correctly in this Facebook post?

I literally just asked AI about the correct use of the word “literally.”

I’ve been watching the TV show “Portobello” which has me glued to my seat, is literally based on a true story, and inspired my question last night on social media.

It’s literally International Cat Day and I literally can’t think of a better segue for the rest of today’s images.

Here’s what I literally found when I searched for “literally” on YouTube.

I literally still don’t know if I’m using “literally” correctly and I literally can’t thank you enough for being here, now.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 8 2026, believing untruths, cats, gratitude, International Cat Day, literally meaning use and examples, making meaning, Portobello, Twitter, work anniversary | 8 Comments

Day 4966: You’re not alone

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, in my Coping and Healing groups, two new members said that the group was already helpful to them because they realized “you’re not alone.”

Over and over again, I’ve witnessed the healing power of discovering you’re not alone.

I hope my images today show that you’re not alone.

Looking at that list, I’m realizing “you’re not alone” regarding particularly preposterous packaging.

“You’re not alone” are words I included in the lyrics for my song “Triggers.”

Here’s what I find when I search for “you’re not alone” on YouTube:

You’re not alone if you appreciate that TED talk by Jonny Sun.

Thanks to all who help me realize “you’re not alone,” including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 7 2026, cats, Jonny Sun, particularly preposterous packaging day, technology glitches, The Daily Bitch Calendar, triggers, Twitter, You are not alone in your loneliness | 8 Comments

Day 4965: Forgetting

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I don’t like forgetting things, but forgetting is common as we age.

Many people worry about forgetting as they get older, concerned that the forgetting is a sign of dementia.

Despite my best efforts, sometimes I’ve been forgetting to take my very important daily medication over the years.

But forgetting to ask a last question of the day on social media? Until yesterday, I had a perfect record.

So far, I haven’t been forgetting to write a daily blog post that includes images like these.

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

I’m not forgetting to share this performance of my original song “Other People’s Anger.”

I’m also not forgetting to share how grateful I am to YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 6 2026, “Other People’s Anger”, cats, chicken dish, my daily dose of vitamin K, my last question of the day, Normal Forgetting @TED, Normal Forgetting or Something Worse?, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4964: Self soothing

Posted on August 5, 2026 by Ann Koplow

These days, the need for self soothing is something people have in common.

Blogging is self soothing for me and I hope my images today promote self soothing for you.

Work Like a Dog Day doesn’t sound very self soothing. Let’s find out.

It’s self soothing for me to realize that even though I work like a dog on every other weekday, Wednesday is my short work day, which allows for more self soothing.

Here and now, it’s self soothing for me to look at images of Switzerland, especially since I had an anxiety dream about travel last night.