During times when my brain is on high alert for possible dangers ahead, it helps to focus on good memories.
Do you see good memories in today’s blog post?
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Every new day can be good memories in the making.
Here’s what I find when I search for “good memories” on YouTube:
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Thanks to all who help me make good memories, including YOU!
It’s no lie that I am
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It’s no lie that it helps to know that you are not alone — that’s why I love being a group therapist (and that’s no lie either).
It’s no lie that my coping strategies, as we all deal with the pandemic and politics, include blogging, singing, dancing, walking, talking, eating, and tweeting.
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It’s no lie that I’m no expert on lots of things, including Brazilians.
It’s no lie that Mark Bialczak and I both love Steely Dan and it’s no lie that I was singing and dancing to this in my neighborhood yesterday:
It’s no lie that I end each blog post with gratitude, so thanks to all who help me blog every day, including YOU!
Yesterday, somebody in a “Coping and Healing” group suggested that we share thoughts and feelings about “It’s okay,” especially since the week before we had focused on “It’s NOT okay.”
I hope it’s okay that I share what I wrote in that group:
It’s okay that my “It’s okay!” poem is on its side.
Here are more photos residing on my okay iPhone:
It’s okay that I missed last night’s spectacular sunset, because I was facilitating the Coping and Healing group. Yes, somebody else took that much-more-than-okay last photo.
Here‘s OK (Anxiety Anthem) by Mabel:
Whatever comment you choose to leave, it’s okay.
I know it’s okay for me to end these posts with gratitude, so thanks to all who helped me create another okay post and — of course! — to YOU.
“What fresh hell is this?” is
Because I was dealing with so many fresh hells yesterday, I have only two fresh photos today.
Some people consider their birthdays a fresh hell, or at least a fresh realization that they’re growing old. I don’t see my birthday — February 2 — as a fresh hell. I see each birthday as a fresh start.
Here are some fresh ideas about how to cope with fresh hells:
How do you deal with fresh hells?
There are a lot of hellish fresh hells on YouTube, but I’m choosing “What Fresh Hell is This?” by Gilbert Neal.
Fresh thanks to all who helped me create today’s fresh hell of a post and — of course! — to YOU.
Yesterday, in a new therapy session, somebody was talking about the new normal. Because the new normal has been changing all the time (which can cause new stress and new anxiety), we discussed new coping strategies like self-care, setting new limits, mindfulness, and taking a breath.
New snow is predicted today for New England, which is normal for this time of year.
Are there new normals in my new photos?
Normally, every time I see that new hotel marquee it has a new musical message. Whenever I see a two-fingered peace sign, I hope that peace may become the new normal (even though today’s new normal is “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme.”).
Here‘s that new normal, by Abba:
It’s normal for me to ask for new comments and to express new thanks to all who help me create these blog posts and — of course! — to YOU.
Here are the headlines:
HEADLINE # 1.
My son is home, recovering well from the spontaneous pneumothorax.
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HEADLINE #2.
My presentation about my new groups, at a 3-day group therapy conference this weekend — which I’ve been blathering about for months (here and elsewhere) — has been cancelled, due to low registration.
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When you are upset, down, judgmental, or any other place you don’t want to be, try this: Distracting yourself. It works! Here’s proof: Rather than feeling relief, disappointment, embarrassment, self-criticism, conference-criticism, pessimism, or optimism, I am now thinking, “What the hell is going on with that cricket? And why?”
Gotta go to the conference. Thanks so much for reading today.