Author Archives: Ann Koplow

About Ann Koplow

I'm a clinical social worker at a major teaching hospital, specializing in group therapy.

Day 4987: Fictional Characters

Posted on August 28, 2026 by Ann Koplow

When I was a young girl dealing with heart problems and multiple hospitalizations, I took great solace in fictional characters. I learned about resilience, resourcefulness, adaptability, integrity, grit, kindness, and humor from my parents but also from fictional characters.

Yesterday I had two conversations with the fictional character ChatGPT about fictional characters.

One conversation was about losing my perfectionism about my upcoming trip to Switzerland. I told ChatGPT that it helped me to think I would survive even if I showed up in a foreign land like Marcus Brody did in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Here’s what ChatGPT said about that:

The second conversation was about which fictional characters I resembled. I told ChatGPT I hoped I was like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice but wondered what other ones it might suggest.

What fictional characters do you relate to in my other images for today?

I really relate to the fictional character of The Daily Bitch.

Thanks to all the wonderful nonfictional characters who are here for this blog about fictional characters, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: audio books, cats, ChatGPT, fictional characters we identify with, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Marcus Brody, socks, The Daily Bitch Calendar, travel fears, tuna noodle casserole, Twitter and Bluesky | 8 Comments

Day 4986: Luck

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, on Make Your Own Luck Day, I had all kinds of luck.

I had the luck to have a short work day, so I could leave the house to do errands for my upcoming trip to Switzerland.

I had the luck to head back into my office at 5 PM to have a Zoom call with a colleague and friend.

I had the luck to walk to the back of the office to retrieve my off-work laptop and to step into some water on the floor, which caused me to look up at the ceiling and see a huge stain and slowly leaking water.

After freaking out about my bad luck, I had the luck to find a plumber who showed up at night.

Eddy has had the luck to look like Pierce Brosnan now and like Tom Cruise when he was younger.

Eddy also had the luck to live in Venice for many years, which I had the luck to visit in 2025.

With some luck and lots of skill, Eddy figured out the source of the leak and stopped it for the night. (Before Eddy showed up, we had turned off all the water in the house but we didn’t have the luck to stop the leak.)

We’ve now got a fan blowing on the damaged part of the ceiling …

… and with luck we’ll be able to repair that easily.

Michael and I have been discussing the luck of this happening at this particular time before I leave for Switzerland, since he never goes into that room when I’m not here.

Do you see luck in my other images for today?

With any luck, the plumbing and ceiling repairs will not cost millions of dollars.

When I went to YouTube just now, I had the luck to immediately find this:

I also have the amazingly good luck to have wonderful readers like YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, different types of luck, Dolly Parton on the David Letterman show, leaks, Make Your Own Luck Day, plumbing, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, tuna noodle casserole, Twitter and Bluesky, Venice | 4 Comments

Day 4985: Make Your Own Luck Day

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Today is Make Your Own Luck Day.

On Make Your Own Luck Day, I’m resolving to make my own luck in Switzerland, no matter what the weather is.

Here are my other images for Make Your Own Luck Day.

Here’s what I find when I search for “make your own luck” on YouTube.

I also want to honor the late, great Dolly Parton, with whom we were lucky to share this earth for many years.

Many thanks to Dolly Parton and to all those who are here on Make Your Luck Day, including YOU.

Categories: in memoriam, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 26 2026, Dolly Parton, healthy meals, Prof. Dr. Christian Busch, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Science of Serendipity TED talk, the South Shore of Boston, the weather in Switzerland, Touch a Heart Day, Twitter and Bluesky | 7 Comments

Day 4984: Hard to Believe

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Ann Koplow

It’s hard to believe that

there are so many stupid people in positions of power,
I’ve been blogging for so long,
I’ve made it to age 73 with my very unusual heart, and
I’ll be traveling to Switzerland by myself in less than a week.

What’s hard to believe in my images for today?

It’s hard to believe how somebody I’ve know all my life isn’t willing to kiss and make up.

Here’s what I find when I search for “hard to believe” on YouTube:

It’s hard to believe that I have so many great followers like YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 25 2026, Boston Ferry, cats, Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries, Eraserheads, Kiss and Makeup Day, swordfish dish with homegrown ingredients, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky | 6 Comments

Day 4983: Traveling

Posted on August 24, 2026 by Ann Koplow

This morning, I’ll be traveling into work at the hospital via ferry, foot, and subway. In less than a week, I’ll be traveling to Switzerland alone via airplane.

I experience anxiety and excitement whenever, wherever, and however I’m traveling.

Are you ready to be traveling through my images for today?

On Weather Complaint Day, I’m deciding to not complain about the weather when I’m traveling, as you can see in this exchange with ChatGPT.

Here’s what I find about traveling to Switzerland on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are traveling with me, here and now, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 24 2026, cats, eggplant parm and salad, local wildlife, preferred ways to travel, Switzerland in 1 week @ian.and.ana, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter and Bluesky, Weather Complaint Day | 9 Comments

Day 4982: Bothering

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Ann Koplow

As a group therapist, I witness what’s bothering people. I also hear how these people I work with worry about bothering others.

It’s bothering me how people in power aren’t bothering about about how their greedy, selfish, and short-sighted actions are bothering those they are supposed to serve and protect.

Is there anything bothering you about my blog post for today?

It’s bothering me that today’s online list of holidays and observances has a grammatical mistake.

When I search for “bothering” on YouTube, I find this …

… and this:

I hope I’m not bothering you with these daily blog posts and my constant gratitude!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 23 2026, cats, Kathleen Madigan “Bothering Jesus”, Le Madeline Restaurant, Reality Club - “Am I Bothering You?”, South Shore Plaza, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter and Bluesky, what’s bothering people | 8 Comments

Day 4981: Stories I Tell Myself

Posted on August 22, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Stories I tell myself include the following:

People are basically good.
People are stupid enough to believe what they want to believe despite the facts.
Mistakes are fatal.
I can make a difference.
Nobody listens to me.
Nothing matters.
Everything matters.

It helps me to remember that these and countless other assumptions are stories I tell myself. I want to be open to new stories of all kinds.

Are there stories I tell myself in my images for today?