Posts Tagged With: holiday gifts

Day 4739: Sounds and Silence

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Ann Koplow

I like the sound of today’s blog post title as I write this in silence.

I have been sharing the sounds of my new Holiday Song with people and appreciating responses and silence.

https://artists.landr.com/057914402345

In my Coping and Healing group, I often do a mindfulness exercise where people listen to sounds in silence. When I talk to people who are considering joining the group, I reassure them that all their sounds and silences will be welcome.

Do you see sounds and silence in my images for today?

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I am still enjoying the sounds and the silence in my very own holiday song.

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Thanks to all who are here for the sounds and silence, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Day 4004: Unconditional self love

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, in a therapy session, I suggested that somebody try unconditional self love. This person asked, “How would I do that?” and I replied, “Redirect some of that unconditional love you have for your children toward yourself.” When they said, “I don’t know how to do that,” I responded, “It’s difficult to do something for the first time, but I strongly recommend that you start trying NOW.”

Why is it so hard for us to have unconditional self love? Earlier in the day, somebody else expressed the fear of feeling too good about themselves. I asked, “Why don’t we have a fear of feeling too bad about ourselves?”

Is there unconditional self love in any of my images for today?

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Here’s what I find when I search for “unconditional self love” on YouTube.

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Unconditional love for all that are here, now, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Day 2146: Just beneath the surface

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Ann Koplow

I’m writing this post (which will probably reach just beneath the surface) in the back seat of a car traveling on the surface of the highway to a group therapy conference in New York City. Earlier tonight, when a fierce snowstorm surfaced and obliterated any view of the road surface, the slippery surfaces almost caused us to give up the trip. Just as we were about to seek shelter from the storm at a motel (which on the surface seemed depressing and suspiciously overpriced), we decided to try navigating the road surfaces one more time. Amazingly, the surface of the roads suddenly changed from snow to rain.

When the snow was covering all the surfaces, we stopped and this surfaced beneath a slice of pizza:

Since we are now going to make it to the conference, I know we’ll be going far beneath the surface in the groups there.

Earlier in the day, I facilitated two groups where many topics came to the surface.

The topics of “gifts” and “self-forgiveness” rose to the surface in those groups.

This is what it looked like on the surface in Boston when we started our trip:

What’s going on for you, just beneath the surface?

For me, gratitude is always just beneath the surface, so thanks to all who helped me create all the surfaces of this post and — of course — YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

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