Posts Tagged With: group therapy

Day 3971: Getting sh*t done

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Ann Koplow

I like getting sh*t done and yesterday that included recording a first take of my newest original song, “It’s Hard to Get Sh*t Done When You’re Scared Sh*tless.”

Getting that sh*t done involved adding music to the lyrics I’d already written and learning new chords on the ukulele.

I also just changed my TikTok nickname to “Singing Therapist” and once I get my sh*t together, I’ll post some videos under that nickname.

Getting sh*t done today includes facilitating two therapy groups, writing the song “Mansplainer” to the tune of Hall & Oates’s “Maneater,” paying bills, taking Joan the cat out for a walk, and — of course! — creating this daily blog. What sh*t is getting done in my images for today?

On Use Less Stuff Day, I’m thinking that getting sh*t done often includes getting rid of sh*t.

Thanks to all who support me in getting sh*t done, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, group therapy, It’s Hard to Get Shit Done When You’re Scared Shitless, Maneater, November 16 2023, putting up a tin ceiling, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, Use Less Stuff Day | 16 Comments

Day 3969: Considering the options

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Ann Koplow

When people in therapy ask my advice and I’m considering the options of how I might respond, I often invite them to consider their options, make a list of pros and cons, and use wise mind (a combination of logic and feeling) to make their decision.

When I was considering the options for today’s blog post title, I noticed the Daily Bitch Calendar.

Butter IS very delicious.

When I’ve been considering the options for commuting to work on Mondays, I choose the harbor ferry whenever I can, because the views and the fresh air are so delicious.

Considering the options, what’s your favorite image for today?

Considering the options, I’m going to choose Loosen Up Lighten Up Day as I provide individual and group therapy from home and also finish writing my newest original song.

Considering the options on YouTube for “considering the options,” here’s what I choose:

https://youtube.com/shorts/I18lMg8qBHc?si=H0pV3AMUyFVtDmAl

Considering my options for ending any blog post, I always choose gratitude for YOU.

Categories: personal growth, Psychotherapy | Tags: acts of kindness, cats, commuting by ferry, group therapy, hospital gift shop, November 14 2023, Rick Astley, The Daily Bitch Calendar, tin ceiling, Twitter, wise mind | 12 Comments

Day 3955: Scary

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Today is Halloween 2023, which is scary.

As I know from my work as a group therapist and from my experience as a human being, life can be very scary, no matter what day it is.

I’m realizing I need to have some scary conversations with people in order to move forward through these scary times.

What makes a conversation scary? To me, a conversation is scary if people might feel insulted, angry, or betrayed.

I guess I’ll just have to use the same technique I’ve used with many scary conversations: (1) Show up, (2) Be gentle, (3) Tell the truth.

Is there anything scary in my images for today?

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

Thanks to all who are helping me get through these scary times, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Andrew Gold, Boston, difficult conversations, group therapy, Halloween, October 31 2023, salmon dish, scary movies, Spooky Scary Skeletons, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Yogi Tea | 12 Comments

Day 3939: Universal

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Because I facilitate therapy groups with diverse populations, I often wonder (and learn) about what’s universal.

Here’s a definition of “universal.”

Here are some universal quotes.

Here are my universal images for today.

National Grouch Day is easily universal, don’t you think?

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

I look forward to your universal comments, below.

Universal thanks to all who are here, now, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Autocorrect, “The Universal”, Blur, cats, group therapy, Halloween, October 15 2023, Rubato, Twitter, universal music, universal quotes | 14 Comments

Day 3935: Faith, Hope, and Carnage

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, people in my therapy group talked about the the struggle to maintain faith and hope amid the horrific carnage happening in Israel as well as their own personal losses.

Last night, my husband Michael and I saw singer song-writer Nick Cave, who wrote the book Faith, Hope, and Carnage about grieving the death of his young son.

With all the faith, hope, and carnage out there, I have very few images to share today.

I have faith and hope that this YouTube video captures our experience of seeing Nick Cave live.

Thanks to all who help me maintain faith and hope among the carnage, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “To Be Found”, CBS Saturday Morning, grief, group therapy, Israel, musicians, Nick Cave, October 11 2023 | 16 Comments

Day 3914: Memory

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Ann Koplow

People in my therapy groups often talk about memory — painful ones, early ones, comforting ones, and the fear of losing their memory.

If my memory serves me well, there are some great quotes about memory.

My memory is that one year ago today I was worrying about my INR, but I still like that quote from Mr. Cossman. Do you see memory in my other images for today?

It seems like vegetables are just a memory for the Daily Bitch on National Pepperoni Pizza Day.

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

It’s going to be difficult to get that musical phrase from “Memory” out of my memory today.

How’s your memory of the quote I shared above about memory and gratitude? And thanks to all who help me create good memories, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: cats, earliest memories, gratitude, group therapy, Osteria Nino, September 20 2023, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, Who Sang The “Memory” Climax Best? | 10 Comments

Day 3893: Group “Therapy” with Ann

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Ann Koplow

As some of you may know, in 2019 I did a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe called Group “Therapy” with Ann.

I would love to do Group “Therapy” with Ann at the Halifax Fringe Festival next year, so yesterday my son Aaron took pictures for that.

Which photo says Group “Therapy” with Ann to you?

I probably won’t use any of today’s other images for Group “Therapy” with Ann.

The Daily Bitch might benefit from some Group “Therapy” with Ann.

Here’s a video that my son took during the first performance of Group “Therapy” with Ann:

Thanks to all who have attended today’s session of Group “Therapy” with Ann, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: 5 Fishermen, August 30 2023, delicious food, group therapy, Halifax Nova Scotia, memories of record stores, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Halifax Fringe Festival, triggers | 8 Comments

Day 3857: The value of a moment

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Ann Koplow

In mindfulness exercises, I invite members of my Coping and Healing groups to appreciate the value of a moment.

I value the moment when I saw this yesterday in the hospital gift shop:

I especially value that today because Twitter — where I’ve spent many wonderful moments connecting with thousands of terrific people — is becoming a memory.

Can you see the value of a moment in my other images for today?

I’m case you haven’t noticed, I DO Give A F about the value of a moment.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “the value of a moment.”

Thanks to all who help me appreciate the value of a moment, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “The Value of a Moment: Why Mindfulness Matters to Me”, cats, Elon Musk, group therapy, hospital gift shop, July 25 2023, old jokes, salmon dish, Stephen Downey, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 3852: Complaints

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Earlier this week, while we were talking about complaints in my Coping and Healing group, one of the members got us laughing about ridiculous complaints from travelers.

I don’t want any complaints from my blog readers, so here’s a link to those traveler complaints:

https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/thomas-cook-20-ridiculous-complaints-vacations/

Here are some quotes about complaints:

Do you see complaints in my images for today?

I have no complaints about this being the third National Ice Cream Soda Day so far this year. On Get to Know Your Customer Day, here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “complaints.”

Feel free to express any complaints in the comments section, below, and thanks for being here, now.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, quotes | Tags: cats, chicken dish, Get to Know Your Customer Day, group therapy, How To Handle Guest Complaints, Ice cream Soda Day, Point Me to the Plane, ridiculous traveler complaints, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Yahya Shakhshir | 10 Comments

Day 3829: We are as one

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Ann Koplow

We are as one is …

Very Zen.
A reassuring thought for me, here and now.
Reminiscent of this joke: What did the Zen master say to the hot dog vendor? “Make me one with everything.”
The title of today’s blog post.
A message I got from the Wordle bot yesterday when I matched all of its guesses.