Posts Tagged With: Group Therapy with Ann

Day 2410: Recurring dreams

One of my recurring dreams is to have a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  Much to my amazement, that will be occurring on August 19 at 13:00 (1 PM) at the Natural Food Kafe basement room. I only have one show this year, but I’m hoping the show will be recurring next year.

My show — “Group ‘Therapy’ with Ann” — is loosely based on the recurring groups that I do five times a week at work. At this point, I’m staying up and having dreams about how to make that work well  since there are new and non-recurring elements I’ve never dealt with before, including:

  • it’s about half the time of my usual groups,
  • I don’t know how many people will show up,
  • several of the participants will be total strangers to me, and
  • it’s a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

I know that I will be using some recurring elements of my real groups, like mindfulness and a check-in where everybody will have the space and time to speak uninterrupted.  In  my recurring groups, I always introduce the check-in by saying what I’m curious about in the moment, as a way to suggest what people might want to share. For the purposes of my Edinburgh show, I’m planning on curiously asking people:

  • why they came to the show,
  • how they would introduce themselves,
  • something we might not guess about them,
  • their experience in the moment,
  • what keeps them up at night,
  • what keeps them going,
  • a favorite saying and/or song, and
  • a recurring or vivid dream they’ve had.

In my check-in, I plan on singing one of my original songs and also sharing a recurring dream I have, about trying to call somebody on the phone and not getting through.

Last night, what kept me up was my indecision, at this point, about what to do at the mid-point of the show.  When I finally fell asleep, I had my recurring dream (which hasn’t occurred in years).

In my dream last night, I was trying to call Michael on my cell phone. It was incredibly difficult, because of new changes to the phone, which I couldn’t figure out.  People were trying to help me connect to him,  but nothing was working.  Eventually, I attempted the tried-and-true method of saying to Siri, “Call Michael!”  At that moment, Michael showed up. I was very relieved to see him,  but it was too late for me to get to an important appointment. (The dream had other non-recurring elements,  including a Trump supporter who kept trying to steal one of my boots as I was putting it on, but never mind.)

Do you have a recurring dream?  Would you talk about it if you came to my show? Actually, it would be a dream for me if any of my readers showed up at my Fringe show, no matter what they decided to share.

Certain recurring dreams and themes show up in my photos.  Can you spot any today?

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Here’s the original song I’m going to sing during my check-in, which has had recurring appearances in this blog:

I have a recurring dream about people leaving comments, and they often do!

Recurring thanks to all who help me create this daily recurring blog, including you!

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Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Day 2406: Everybody’s somebody’s _____

Last night, I sang my latest original song — “Everybody’s Somebody’s A–hole” — at the Jam’n Java Open Mic in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Everybody’s somebody’s

Everybody’s somebody’s …

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teammate,

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proud partner,

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ninja,

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angel,

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fear, trigger, time off, safety, news, danger, clickbait, health, illness, stillness, trip, and

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talented local performer.

I’ve asked the coordinators of the Jam’n Java Open Mic if I could be a featured performer some day and they replied, “We usually book people who’ve had a show elsewhere.”

I’m working on it.

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Everybody’s somebody’s observer, so feel free to leave any observations in the comments section, below.

No matter what I am to anybody else, I’m always grateful to be your blogger, every day.

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Categories: blogging, group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , | 10 Comments

Day 2403: What words stand out for you?

After the Democrat debate last night — which included a lot of words, presidential candidates, and interruptions — I’m wondering what words stand out for you?

What words stand out for you in my photos from yesterday?

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My son’s friend Leo (who wrote some stand-out words in this blog post) thinks I’ll stand out if my Fringe poster includes words about my credentials.  I’m still not sure whether I’ll include those words.

When I search YouTube for “What words stand out for you?” this comes up first …

… which reminds me of the misheard words in my son’s video:

These words stand out for me from comedian Peter Kay’s Wikipedia page:

his first semi-professional stand-up appearances were at the 1998 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he received a prestigious Perrier Award nomination.

Words that stand out for me from my readers’ comments, over the years, tell me that certain wordless pictures stand out, like this one:

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What words stand out for me, as I finish this post?  As usual, these words:

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Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Day 2402: Magic is totally real

These socks are totally real …

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… and so are all these other things I photographed recently, including Michael making a hot tub disappear.

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Michael, who really doesn’t like tilapia, magically transformed that fish into something even he totally liked last night.  The magic ingredients included coconut, ginger, cream, and mango.

I believe that magic is totally real because I’ll be doing a show at the Edinburgh Fringe on August 19.  Here’s the totally real front and back of my flyer:

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Here is what I magically find on YouTube when I totally search for “Magic is totally real”:

I’m really looking forward to the magic you totally create in the comments section, below.

My gratitude is totally real, so thanks to all who  helped me magically create today’s daily blog post and — of course! — to YOU, for being totally here, before you disappear.

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Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Day 2400: Girls never quit

Yesterday, after spending  time with a wise  girl in her 70s who just won’t quit and who recently received a new diagnosis of a chronic illness,  I saw this:

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The girl writing this blog will never quit

  • appreciating others,
  • observing,
  • stopping to smell the flowers,
  • healing,
  • hoping,
  • loving,
  • connecting,
  • renewing,
  • revealing,
  • looking for the beauty in every moment,
  • knowing that life is good,
  • putting herself out there,
  • believing in the power of groups, and
  • taking pictures.

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Those last three photos show my boyfriend who won’t quit until he dismantles and gets rid of that hot tub.

This girl never quits looking for videos that won’t quit, like this one by a girl who never gives up:

I hope you never quit accepting all your feelings, which you are welcome to express in a comment, below.

This girl never quits expressing gratitude, so thanks to all who help me continue creating this blog and — of course! —  to YOU.

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Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Day 2398: I have the right

I have the right to share these opening lines from an email I got from the Edinburgh Free Fringe organizers:

Some of you think you are woefully under-prepared. Some of you think you’ve got it in the bag. Some of you might be right, but I can’t say which.

I have the right to  think I am woefully under-prepared for my Free Fringe Show  (Group “Therapy” with Ann) AND that I’ve got it in the bag,  all in the space of one day.

I have the right to be thinking about rights, here and now, since in yesterday’s two Coping and Healing groups we took turns choosing from The Bowl of Rights:

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I have the right to appreciate all the personal rights that were chosen in yesterday’s group, including the two pictured above.  I don’t know if it’s right to use The Bowl of Rights in my Edinburgh Fringe show, but if I do, it’s only right that I use a better bowl.

I have the right to share my other photos from yesterday.

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I had the right yesterday to dub the white board in the group room “B.O.I”. — which stands for Board Of Importance. I’m not going to have a Board of Importance in Edinburgh to list the important themes that get shared during my show, which may or may not contribute to whether my show will fail or succeed.

I have the right to share these other important words from that Free Fringe email:

We all get different things out of the fringe, but if you’re looking to get rich or famous you will be disappointed. The best way to approach it is as an experience. If you treat your co-performers and your venue with respect, you will have it returned, and consequently enjoy that experience more.

I have the right to all my feelings (including excitement, disappointment, fear,  hope, and joy) and so do you.

I have the right to share this Fight for Your Right song by the Beastie Boys.

Coincidentally, Michael and I danced to this righteous Beastie Boys song last night:

You have the right to express your thoughts and feelings in a comment, below.

I have the right to express my gratitude for all who help me create these daily posts and — of course! — for YOU.

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Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Day 2393: Locations

There are many locations in the news today, including

How are things in your location?

Yesterday, in my location, I was focusing on the location of my upcoming show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as you can see in this email I sent to my “Venue Captain.”

Hi!

I’m working on my flyer so I wanted to know if the venue was handicapped accessible. Also, would you say it’s considered a little out of the way? I’m thinking of saying it’s not too far from St. George Square Gardens and/or the Meadows Tennis Court. Does that seem like a good way to get visitors to find it and not be too discouraged by the distance?

Also, if I put chairs in a circle how many people do you think could fit in the room?

Many thanks,
Ann (of Group “Therapy” with Ann)

By the way, I had one of those locations wrong — the correct name for that Edinburgh landmark  would be “George Square Gardens.” 

I don’t know the current location of my Venue Captain, but he was kind enough to email me back immediately .

Call me if u can. The spot the Venue is not out of the way from anything it’s in a great spot it’s next to summer Hall … I’m not next to my computer but it’s not like New York City where you have a show in Brooklyn and listen everybody’s excited to see shows ..don’t even mention anything you just tell them where it is it’s next to summer Hall . ..use google maps … download the app… so don’t worry about anything …

No matter what the location is, I agree with the Venue Captain, my Captain, that it doesn’t help to worry. Here’s what my captain said about the size of the room:

if you put people in a circle you might get 10 12 15 I’m not sure, it’s not a very big Room …I don’t know if you saw pictures of it

My captain told me not to worry about anything, so I won’t worry about what might happen if more than fifteen people show up at that location on August 19 at 13:00.  Just like the five groups I do every week in the location of a hospital-based Primary Care Practice in Boston, I will do my best not to turn anybody away.

In my current location on the South Shore of Boston, I spent many hours yesterday trying to add a map with the location of my  Edinburgh Fringe Festival  venue to my flyer.  This is the best map I’ve been able to capture so far:

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Now that my son Aaron is in the same location as me (after arriving last night in Boston from his previous location in Jordan), I’m sure he’ll help me  locate a better map locating my venue location on my flyer.

Here’s a video recommending locations to eat in Edinburgh:

I’ve been to a few of those locations (as you can see in locations here, here, here, here, here, and here).  After watching that video, I’m adding several of those locations to my list of new locations to try.

Because my current location is so hot, I have only a few other photos of other locations to share today.

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Before reaching that Logan Airport location last night to await the arrival of my son Aaron,  Michael and I revisited the location of Rincon Limeño, a wonderful Peruvian restaurant in East Boston.  At that location, I took this photo, knowing it would appear in this exact location in today’s blog.

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Thanks to all who helped me create this “locations” post and to YOU, no matter what your location is, here and now.

 

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Day 2385: I Need Your Help.

Yesterday, in a therapy group, we talked about how difficult it is to ask others for help.  I wrote this up on the white board to remind people about how to ask for help:

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Today, I need your help.  I have to submit a 340-character blurb and a photo about  my Edinburgh Free Fringe show — Group “Therapy” with Ann — tomorrow at the latest, so it can be included in the published version of the Wee Blue Book, listing all the Free Fringe shows. (Here‘s a link to the current listings in that book.)

Here’s what I’ve got, so far, for my blurb:

If you want a taste of group therapy with a trained professional who writes songs like “Everybody’s Somebody’s A**hole,” don’t miss this ONE TIME ONLY show. Find out just enough about yourself and others to feel better. “This could work.” – Scottish comedian Raymond Mearns. “That’s my mother.” – award-winning comedian Aaron Fairbanks.

If you saw that amongst hundreds of other show descriptions, might you attend that show?

The accompanying photo has to be small and square, and I’m considering one of these, taken last year during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by my son Aaron’s friend Camilla:

Photo 1:

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Photo 2:

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Photo 3:

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Photo 4:

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Photo 5:

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I need your help in deciding which of those photos might be best.

When I have lots of choices and am under a deadline, sometimes I feel like this:

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Here‘s an appropriate song for today:

Many thanks to all those who help others, here, there and everywhere, including YOU!

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Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Day 2384: Expect the unexpected

Yesterday, I got this unexpected email:

Dear Ann Koplow

We have been looking at the database of shows who still want something, either runs or infills.

We would like to offer you the slot(s) below:

Show number 306 provisional title Group “Therapy” with Ann

Mo 19 13:00-14:00 Natural Food Kafe Basement Room

If you accept, please email this address immediately.

If these are extra performances, you will already have sent a picture and blurb. If you have not sent a picture and blurb, please immediately send one via the form. Full instructions are attached.

If you don’t want what’s offered but want something else, please email back saying what. Be as precise as you can.

If you don’t want this at all, please email back and say so. Make things as clear as possible. For example, if you’ve asked for extras but now don’t want extras, but want to keep your main run, say that. We don’t want any mistakes.

All offers are immediately void if you have breached the Ethos and Rules by applying to any other free-admission promoter, including pay-what-you-want and pay-for-priority-admission-otherwise-free. Or breached them in any other way.

Please reply as soon as you can so that we can fill the spaces as well as we can, and get your show in the Wee Blue Book.

Thank you

Free Fringe Team

I didn’t expect that!  I expect that email means that I will have a show at the Free Fringe in Edinburgh on August 19 at 1 PM, unless my responding back six hours later wasn’t immediately enough.  I expect it was, but I never seem to expect anything for sure.

With my life (see as many posts in this blog as possible), I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. I expect good things will come my way and they often do! I also expect I’ll have trouble sleeping trying to anticipate and plan for the unexpected.

I expect I’ll have to market the hell out of this Edinburgh Fringe Festival opportunity, especially because of the time and location of my show.  Expect to read more about this, here, in the month ahead.

I just posted this unexpected news on my Facebook page:

I GOT A SHOW AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE! August 19th, 1 PM, The Natural Food Kafe. Consider making this part of your vacation plans.

Unexpectedly, somebody already has replied that they’ll be going.

Expect the unexpected photos.

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Expect an explanation of at least one unexpected photo.  That little fishing dude, directly above, reminds me of the old saying “Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach someone to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”  I expect you’ve heard that one before.

Expect the unexpected video:

I expect that no one will watch or listen to that whole thing.

I expect the unexpected comment, below.

Expect gratitude here, every day, for all who help me live each unexpected day, including YOU!

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Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

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