On this Independence Day, I’m thinking that independence might be overrated, since we need to depend on each other in order to thrive and survive.
I depend on you to tell me if you see independence or interdependence in my images for today.
.
Here’s what I find when I search for “independence” on YouTube.
.
Thanks to all those I depend on this Independence Day, including YOU.
I forgot the whole routine, but Steve Martin used to talk about committing crimes and the defense of saying “I forgot!” “I forgot that doing that was a crime!”
I forgot what the crime was, but it doesn’t matter.
Yesterday, I forgot to write more for the book I’m doing with my friend and fellow psychotherapist Megan, but I’ve already written some notes about it today. I forgot how to work on a shared document in Google Docs but maybe somebody will remind me.
Whenever somebody says to me “I forgot what I was saying,” I reply, “Don’t worry. It’ll come back to you.” And it almost always does.
Older people forget that they also forgot things when they were younger and often panic when they forget, assuming it means they are exhibiting signs of dementia. I forgot to maintain data about how seldom it’s dementia and how often it’s just the normal experience of forgetting nouns and names as people grow older.
I forgot the exact title of the new Indiana Jones movie and I’m looking forward to seeing that today.
I forgot to mention that my motto is from Raiders of the Lost Ark: “I’m making it up as I go along.”
I forgot the exact phrasing of that quote, but I found this on my Facebook page:
I forgot that the actual quote is: “I don’t know; I’m making this up as I go.”
.
I forgot to capture more images on I Forgot Day yesterday.
.
I forgot to compliment my mirror today, so “Hello, gorgeous!”
Here’s the Steve Martin routine about “I Forgot.”
.
I forgot how relevant that routine from the 1970s was to these days, when millionaires don’t pay taxes.
I forgot to take any good photos of gratitude yesterday, but thanks to Steve Martin, Megan, Indiana Jones, my sister-in-law Tammy who collects sea glass and who hosted a wonderful barbecue yesterday, my followers on Twitter, and those who didn’t forget to visit my blog today, including YOU!
The title is something my mother used to say to me. It’s a good title for today’s post, I think, because I finally completed this:
I’ve had lots of thoughts and feelings about the process of creating that, during this Year of Living Non-Judgmentally (which I blogged about here, here, and elsewhere).
Here are some thoughts and feelings I’m having, today:
I don’t want to mind-read (because that would be a cognitive distortion), but I do wonder if others are having certain thoughts now, like these:
“Did you leave ME anything?”
“I know I’m new, more skittish (therefore more blurry), and probably not quite as loved yet, but … did you leave ME anything?”
I probably AM projecting onto others, here. But it’s difficult not to do that, you know?
Anyway, it was quite a process, completing that will. I mean, it took 60 friggin’ years. And, as Indiana Jones said:
“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”*
Speaking of mileage, here are some shots I took, yesterday, on my journey to sign that will:
The building on the left is where my parents lived their last years together. That’s where I saw my father, for the last time, in 1997. I am so grateful for that encounter, still. Before I left that day, he said to me, “Give me five,” holding his hand up high. I replied, “I’ll give you ten,” and I gave him a hug.
Here’s another, clearer shot of that building:
My parents lived on the second floor, on the right.
.
Here’s where I spent a lot of hours, as a kid, reading and choosing books to take home:
When I took those books home, this is similar to what I would see:
And this is where I read those books:
This is what I sometimes saw, when I would leave my home, back then:
When I visited yesterday, I did see some new things, including this:
It’s nice that some people can attain Nirvana every day, isn’t it?
Here’s a photo (taken when I was heading back home last night) that’s related to that, I believe:
I hope I remember that flashy Stop sign** the next time I have a thought that doesn’t help me. Because, the more I can let go of unhelpful thoughts, the more I can do these things (suggested by a bumper sticker last night):
And I’ve got some time to do those, apparently, because a lawyer promised me, yesterday, that signing my will wouldn’t kill me.
Being a lawyer, he immediately added, “And if it does, at least now you have a will.”
Thanks to all who contributed to creating this post and — of course!! — to you, for visiting.
* I wanted to find a sound or video clip for that, but c’est la vie.
** Check out the antidote of “Thought Stopping,” here.