Author Archives: Ann Koplow

About Ann Koplow

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

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.

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

Thanks to all who deserve more self soothing, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 5 2026, healthy meals, images of Switzerland, soothing animals, TED talk by Vivi Svendsen, The art of self-soothing, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, Work Like a Dog Day | 6 Comments

Day 4963: What people have in common

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Because I’m a group therapist, I get to witness, explore, and appreciate what people have in common.

What people have in common these days includes a disdain for politicians, perhaps because they often ignore or manipulate what people have in common.

Last night, on social media, I asked a question about what people have in common.

Do you see what people have in common in my images for today?

The Daily Bitch often addresses what people have in common.

Here’s what I find when I search for “what people have in common” on YouTube.

In case you haven’t noticed, I love focusing on what people have in common, including YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: anxiety, August 4 2026, Brookline MA, BuzzFeed, cats, fresh tomatoes from the garden, grouper dish, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky | 5 Comments

Day 4962: How to take pictures

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Over the years, I’ve gotten praise for the pictures I’ve taken for this blog, so I think it’s time for a blog post about how to take pictures.

For me, how to take pictures is simple and straightforward: I see something interesting, frame it with my phone, and press the button.

Let’s see if any of my pictures today demonstrate how to take pictures.

Here’s what I find when I search for “how to take a picture” on YouTube.

Here’s how to take a picture of my gratitude for you.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: audio books, August 3 2026, cats, Erin Sullivan TED talk, National Psychic Day, Photographing a moment, predictions for the future, Sunday meals, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter and Bluesky | 7 Comments

Day 4961: Taking Up Space

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Something I’ve noticed about myself and people I work with in therapy: We are concerned about taking up space.

I’m so concerned about taking up space that I worry about my new shoes making too much noise when I’m walking through other people’s spaces!

I’d like to be more comfortable about taking up space.

Also, anxiety has been taking up space in my mind as I prepare for my solo trip to Switzerland at the end of this month.

Now, I’ll be taking up space with my images for today.

On International Forgiveness Day, I’m going to forgive myself for how I am taking up space.

Here’s what I find when I search for “taking up space” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are here and taking up space, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston Animal Hospital, cats, International Forgiveness Day, Jamie-Lukas Campbell TED talk, noisy shoes, Twitter and Bluesky, Watertown MA, what takes up too much space, yearly vet visit | 6 Comments

Day 4960: Voices of Reason

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Voices of reason are few and far between these days, especially if you listen to the news.

That’s the reason I asked about voices of reason on social media last night.

I have mixed feelings about ChatGPT but sometimes it can be a voice of reason.

Are there voices of reason elsewhere in today’s blog?

Here’s what I find when I search for “voices of reason” on YouTube:

Eleanor Longden is a powerful voice of reason.

Thanks to all the voices of reason out there, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, therapy | Tags: August 1 2026, cats, ChatGPT, Eleanor Longden, Fuji Restaurant, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, The Voices in my Head, Twitter and Bluesky, vegetable garden | 6 Comments

Day 4959: What feels left unsaid

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Near the end of my group therapy and individual therapy sessions, I often ask people what feels left unsaid.

What feels left unsaid for me, here and now, is that a wonderful social work intern who co-facilitated two group sessions with me in 2025 tragically died recently in a motorcycle accident.

What feels left unsaid is that life can be very, very unfair. What also feels left unsaid is that sometimes, words fail.

Often, when we say what feels left unsaid we find out that we are not alone. I often express what feels left unsaid here through words and images.

Here’s what I find when I search for “what feels left unsaid” on YouTube.

Feel free to say what feels left unsaid in the comments section, below.

Many thanks to all who help me express what feels left unsaid, including YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: @LeftUnsaidbyHudson, achievable next steps, cats, July 31 2026, macaroni and cheese casserole, Michaela Waldrop, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, What “left unsaid” really means, what feels left undone | 7 Comments

In my Coping and Healing groups, people talk about wanting to get rid of mixed feelings. I have mixed feelings about how to respond because I believe mixed feelings are the natural human response to complex situations which surround us.

Do you see mixed feelings in my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for mixed feelings on YouTube.

If you have mixed feelings about watching that video, I recommend that TED talk by Dr. Joan Rosenberg about accepting mixed feelings, including these unpleasant ones:

Thanks to everyone who deals with mixed feelings, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: accepting all feelings, cats, Dr. Joan Rosenberg, echocardiogram, Emotional Mastery: The Gifted Wisdom of Unpleasant Feelings, July 30 2026, Longwood Medical Area, macaroni and cheese casserole, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 7 Comments