group therapy

Day 5023: Less Than Perfect

Posted on October 2, 2026 by Ann Koplow

It’s the end of a less-than-perfect work week, including Less than Perfect Day.

In my less-than-perfect Coping and Healing groups, we’ve been discussing dealing with the world and ourselves being less than perfect. We are always less than perfect and perfectionism gets in the way of realizing that we are still enough.

I did a less-than-perfect insurance review for a patient this week and I am hoping to still get her the therapy services she needs.

This daily blog is less than perfect and I am working with a WordPress Happiness Engineer to try to make it better. “Happiness Engineer” seems like a less-than-perfect label, but all labels are less than perfect.

ChatGPT is less than perfect and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Time to share my less-than-perfect images for today.

Dogs are less than perfect, too.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “less than perfect.”

Thanks to all the less-than-perfect people who are here for this less-than-perfect post, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: beef stew, cats, coping and healing groups, Guy Hoffman TED talk, Less Than Perfect Robots, October 2 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, WordPress Happiness Engineer | 8 Comments

Day 5017: Bingeing

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Here’s a definition of “bingeing.”

I’ve been bingeing audio books lately. After finishing this book …

… I’ve been bingeing The Office.

Most of my bingeing is a way to get a break from other people’s suffering and the relentless insanity in the news.

As usual, I’ve also been bingeing capturing images around me.

Believe me, I won’t be bingeing all those observances today. After bingeing on problems all week, I’m be bingeing on peace and quiet.

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

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

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: 8 Ways to Stop Binge Eating, @reallifepsych3309, cats, Fuji Sushi, September 26 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, Which Side? protest song teach out | 6 Comments

Day 5007: Purpose

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I know, from my work as a group therapist, that people yearn for a purpose.

My purpose, here and now, is to purposefully share and invite thoughts and feelings about purpose.

Ready?

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

Thanks to all who help me with my purpose of blogging every day, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Corliss Rassyle TED talk, gratitude, lobster tails from Fratelli’s, pasta dish with homegrown tomatoes, September 17 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, Why “find your purpose” is wrong advice | 4 Comments

Day 5005: Next Steps

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Ann Koplow

After taking so many new steps in Switzerland, it’s time for me to think about next steps.

Next steps for me include

Planning my next solo trip (Japan or Greece),
Preparing for my appearance in October on the protest song teach-out Which Side,
Realizing that I belong up on stages, mountains, and other high places,
Taking time every day to get my healing groups and music out there, and
Letting go of fear, guilt, and shame as soon as possible.

Do you see next steps in my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I look for “next steps” on YouTube.

My next step is to thank everyone who helped me create today’s blog post, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston Ferry, Cass McCrory TED talk, cats and other creatures, chocolate babka, Finding Your Best Next Step, healthy meals, September 15 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, WordPress posting streak | 8 Comments

Day 4995: Different Views

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I love having different views of spectacular vistas during my solo train tour of Switzerland.

I have recognized that there will be different views depending on where I am sitting in each train. During this trip I am developing different views about my wish to figure out in advance which seats will have the best views.

Because there is no way of my knowing which of all the possible views are the best, I am practicing different views of ways to experience the views. For example, if I realize that different vantage points have new views I would like to experience in the moment, I may change my position to see those different views. If that change is difficult, I can just accept that the different views I’m seeing are enough.

Practicing this different view of experiencing views is making this trip even better.

Are you ready for the different views in this post?

I love having different views of the Matterhorn, including this one from the balcony of my tiny room in Zermatt!

I can have different views of the glacial stream that runs by the hotel, which I can hear as I’m writing this Different Views blog!

There are so many ways get different views of the Matterhorn in Zermatt.

Readers of this blog know that I enjoy different views of cats.

There are so many different views from the Gornergrat Railway.

I’m sure the different views from this Gronergrat hotel are amazing.

I sat on this bench and took in the different views.

I have different views about religion but I decided to light a candle, as invited.

I knew that at this exact moment people in my groups would be sharing different views, and I prayed they all find peace.

I love having all these different views of the Matterhorn.

Now for some different views of Zermatt.

There are different views on how to prepare Spaetzle; this had freshly-picked mushrooms.

I love eliciting different views with my last question of the day.

I always enjoy the different views of the Daily Bitch.

On Be Late for Something Day, I am trying to embrace different views of my usual urge to never, ever be late for anything.

Thanks to all who are here for the different views in this post!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: accepting different views, awe inspiring things, cats and other creatures, Gronergrat, September 5 2026, spaetzle, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Matterhorn, Twitter, Zermatt | 10 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 4977: Special

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, when I was doing my special job at a special hospital with special people, I saw this:

Lately, I’ve been feeling special because my special music has been getting more recognition. For example, I’ll be singing my special protest song in October at the special protest song teach-out Which Side?

Here is a special photo from a recent Boston Globe article about Which Side?

Do you recognize the special person on the right?

Yesterday, I felt special because somebody special in my special in-person Coping and Healing group shared that my song “I Left the House Before I Felt Ready” had made them cry.

I did a special a Capella performance of it in group and it had the same effect.

I guess that song must be special because the special Eric Alper chose that one to share in his special playlist of the best Indie music. Here is our special communication about that.