Posts Tagged With: being in the moment

Day 2112: What aren’t you doing right now?

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Ann Koplow

What aren’t you doing right now?

What I’m not doing includes the following:

reading the news,
driving a car,
speaking,
worrying about the future,
regretting the past, and
anything else besides creating this blog post.

Whenever we choose to do anything, there are an infinite number of things that we aren’t doing. If we focus on what we aren’t doing, rather than on what we are doing, there are infinite reasons to believe that we’re not doing enough or that we’re not doing the right thing.

Here’s something else I’m not doing right now: taking photographs. However, I am sharing these:

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I’m also not

wearing Ouija Board socks,
drinking tea,
being bitten by sea lions or cats,
looking for our shy cat Harley,
waving a magic wand,
blushing,
writing new lyrics or music, or
playing the ukulele.

However, I am sharing this:

Whatever you’re not doing right now — like commenting — you can do soon, if you choose.

I am now doing this: expressing gratitude to all who helped me create this post and — of course! — YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Scary Time for Boys", being in the moment, Blue Q socks, diagnostic codes, Lynzy Lab Stewart, magic wand, Ouija Board socks, the here and now, what you are doing, what you're not doing, Yogi Tea | 28 Comments

Day 2053: Peace & Quiet

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Ann Koplow

In an Iceland hotel, instead of demanding “Do Not Disturb,” one politely asks for “Peace & Quiet.”

I think we all deserve some Peace & Quiet these days, especially with all the noise in the news.

Do you see any Peace and/or Quiet in my other photos from yesterday?

I’m off for another day of Peace, Quiet, & Dramatic Scenery in Iceland.

Peace, Quiet, & Thanks to all who helped me create today’s blog post and — of course! — to you.

Categories: inspiration, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: being in the moment, escapes, fake gnus, fake news, Gullfoss Waterfall, healing, Iceland, meringue dessert, peace, Quiet, the Atlantic Ocean, Vik, waterfalls | 17 Comments

Day 2008: I’d rather be _________

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Ann Koplow

How would you complete today’s blog title? Charlotte Beers — “one of the few females to run a major ad agency’ — has completed that sentence like so:

As one of the females to run a minor ad agency, I like to complete that sentence with whatever I am doing, in the moment. Therefore, right now, I’d rather be blogging. When I am facilitating groups, I sometimes tell the group members “There is nothing I’d rather be doing than this.”

As of today, July 1, 2018, I’d rather be president of the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy.

Right now, I’d rather be sharing all these photos I took yesterday:

Now I’d rather be introducing you to Ray Blair …

… who was selling Yamaha pianos at a South Shore mall yesterday. Ray used to be the Dean of a local college; now he’d rather be sharing his passion for music. Yesterday we both shared our original music with each other.

Now, I’d rather be re-sharing my first original song here at WordPress:

Finally, I’d rather be expressing thanks to all who helped me create today’s blog post and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", "I'd Rather Be in Charge", being in the moment, Charlotte Beers, Don Myers, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, Ray Blair, South Shore Plaza, Yamaha Pianos | 12 Comments

Day 1956: This Way and That Way

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Ann Koplow

These days, some people tell you it’s right to think and act this way

while other people tell you it’s right to think and act that way.

In our way, there are so many ways that divide us.

My way is to celebrate life’s moments,

invite hope,

express myself,

work on stress,

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promote self-forgiveness,

be smart,

help people reach their potential,

appreciate the arts,

accept the child and the adult,

walk past the news,

stay away from death,

deal with people leaving,

focus on our chances,

let go of worry about the future,

eat healthy meals,

look this way and that way on YouTube,

and express my gratitude, every day.

I’m thankful, here and now, that I can ask this community: What’s your way?

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, therapy | Tags: acceptance, being in the moment, Boston Massachusetts, expressing all feelings, feeling chart, hope, self forgiveness, stress worksheet, The Longwood Medical area, This Way That a Way song | 18 Comments

Day 1793: Start where you are

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Ann Koplow

Where are you? You’re at the Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally. Start here.

Where do you want to go from where you are? Start by taking a small step. Then another.

If it’s difficult to start where that caption is, it says

Without any tennis balls around, Zoe has resorted to the limes that fall off the tree…

I want to start being more like Zoe.

“Start where you are” finds lots of videos on YouTube. Let’s start here:

Start a comment, if that’s where you are.

Where I am is here, so I’ll end with gratitude to all who helped me start and complete this post and — of course! — to you, wherever you are.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: AlexsLens, being in the moment, cod cakes, next steps, small steps, where you are, Yogi Tea, Zoe the dog | 22 Comments

Day 1722: Here, there, and everywhere

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, I was here, there, and everywhere as I attended an illuminating presentation about large groups, hung around with great people and animals, went for walks near my new home, went food shopping with my boyfriend Michael, and watched the Emmys.

Here are photos I snapped there and everywhere.

Hey there! You’re awesome for being here, when you could be everywhere.

If you’ve been here before, you know I like to include music from everywhere. There’s this, from YouTube:

When I go here, there, and everywhere, I focus on gratitude. Thanks to all who help me create these posts and here’s special thanks to you, there and everywhere.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: being in the moment, Dr. Seuss, gratitude, here and now, Here There and Everywhere, living near the ocean, the Beatles, the large group | 16 Comments

Day 1719: Distractions

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Ann Koplow

I will try to avoid and ignore distractions as I write this blog post on “Distractions.”

Actually, aren’t writing and also reading blog posts distractions themselves?

Last night, in a therapy group, people who were somewhat distracted focused on the topic of “Distractions.”

I wrote more, last night, about distractions, including compiling a distracting list of “bad” and “good” distractions. I’m not too distracted to remember that my list of good distractions included taking photographs.

Phones appeared on most people’s descriptions of distractions. I wrote that any “good” distraction can turn into a “bad”distraction if we can’t control it.

Music was also on my list of “good” distractions. When I walk to and from work, I distract myself by listening to music. This distracting music showed up yesterday:

Distractions can help relieve AND also add to anxiety. Sudden endings can be distractions, too.

Also, I tried to record the sounds and sights of the ocean last weekend and then was too distracted to share that brief clip. I hope this is a good distraction.

If you’re not too distracted, consider sharing your thoughts and feelings about distractions below.

Nothing can distract me from thanking all who help me write these distracting blog posts and — of course! — YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Anxiety's Moment, bad distractions, being in the moment, Chicago, dealing with anxiety, Everything is a distraction from something else, good distractions, letting go of judgment, our phones, the ocean | 22 Comments

Day 1673: Are we there yet?

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Ann Koplow

Are we there yet? Are we there at a place where we can finally

be accepting,
feel safe enough,
love ourselves,
love others,
be authentic, and
relax?

I was there yesterday, for moments.

“Are We There Yet?” is a great tune by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays.

We’re here yet so we better make the best of it, because who knows where we’ll be tomorrow.

Are we there, yet, at the end of today’s blog? We are, so thanks to all who help me bring these posts here and — of course! — to you, for being there.