Last night, at a Sunday working meeting to prepare for next weekend’s group therapy conference, somebody told me they thought I’d been M.I.A. for the last few days. I had many thoughts about that, including:
“Missing In Action”? I’ve been right here all along!
Does that mean I’ve been Missing Important Action?
Has my responsiveness and accessibility changed since my son came home for the summer?
Last night, I dreamed about being lost with my sister and my son, leaving them to find help, and then missing my phone and ways to get back to them. I was searching desperately for everything that was missing, over and over again, and then told somebody in my dream, “I can never get a break!”
I woke up deciding to write about M.I.A. Then I noticed that, as usual, the action in some of my latest photos fit the action of my daily topic. I don’t want you to be missing any of those pictures, so here they are:
What would I do without you, my readers, who have supported and sustained me through 2,309 consecutive days of blogging?
What would I do without my iPhone and my eye for interesting images and connections all around me?
What would I do without wonderful people like Ryan Gee, sales manager extraordinaire for Boston Roofing and Gutters, who helped us quickly fix our leaky roof and also told us about the best local Thai Restaurant EVER (Thai Noodle Bar in Quincy, Massachusetts)?
people who express joy, positivity, passion, love, or whatever else they’re feeling,
people who are open to change,
flowering trees,
bunnies,
my boyfriend Michael for being Mr. Fix-It with various leaks around the house (one under the kitchen sink and one from the flat roof over the front hallway), and
Big kisses to the wonderful people from my group psychotherapy organization who wrote “joy”, “passion,” “change”, ” positivity”, “love”, and other things on those beach stones at a retreat last fall.
Yesterday morning, when I was writing my second Letter from the President for the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy (NSGP) newsletter, my boyfriend Michael started talking in his sleep. Michael sometimes talks in his sleep in the mornings, but I can never hear what he’s saying. It doesn’t help that he mumbles while sleep-talking. Yesterday, he said
“ASK FOR HELP!” was so loud and clear that it startled me and the cats. Inspired by that message from the sleeping Michael, I immediately sent my latest version of my Letter from the President to a helpful friend and NSGP board member, and asked for her help in reviewing what I’d written. It really helped that I asked for help that way, because (1) she was very positive and helpful in her feedback and (2) this morning I restarted my computer and would have completely lost all my latest work if I hadn’t sent her that draft.
As Michael said, ASK FOR HELP!
I heard “ASK FOR HELP!” in my head yesterday as I looked for helpful images to capture and share. You don’t have to ask me to include them here and now.
Right before I took that last photo, I heard many cat noises coming from inside our house, so I asked for Michael’s help in identifying them. Since I asked for help, he showed me this video:
Those hungry cats were asking for help, and they got it.
After our long walk near the seashore yesterday, I received an email about Open Mic’s around Boston. Because it helps to practice my original songs, I asked for help in signing up for a slot tomorrow night.
Last night, Michael and I had dinner with my friend and co-worker Alice and her husband (not pictured). I said, “I think Alice and I have the female equivalent of a bromance. I wonder what that’s called?” Later, I asked for help in identifying that term. Would you like to ask for help in discovering what that word is?
I had unconditional acceptance for a helpful acronym somebody shared there — SLOW:
Soften face
Lower shoulders
Open heart and breath
Wilt fingers
I felt unconditional well-being after spending two hours softening my face, lowering my shoulders, opening my heart and breath, and wilting my fingers in mindfulness practice yesterday, despite my conditional attitude towards Daylight Savings time changes.
I’m hoping for unconditional acceptance of the only two photos I took yesterday.
Michael prepared those burritos in challenging conditions last night, because he had forgotten to buy the Mexican cheese and beans he wanted to use. Instead, he substituted parmesan cheese and cannellini beans and conditionally named them “Fusion Burritos.” I unconditionally accepted them but he was more conditional about them.
I’m usually not in great condition the first Monday after a clock time change, but I an unconditional in my eagerness to get to work this morning.
There are many “Unconditional” songs on YouTube. Here‘s one of them, by Matt Maeson:
Unconditional thanks to all who helped me create this “unconditional” post and — of course! — to YOU.
Because I think New Year’s resolutions can be the worst, my best way of marking the New Year is to compile my personal 10 Best and 10 Worst lists for the year. What’s best about that ritual is that it allows me to look back over the past year in a useful way, getting some closure as we move into the brand new year.
Because I don’t want to dwell on the worst, I think it’s best that I share only my personal 10 Best of 2018 (in alphabetical order):
There were so many bests this year, the cats didn’t even make it on the list. Although, maybe it’s best that I include them in the “Health of those I love” or in “Friends.”
Here are my best and worst photos from yesterday:
If you can’t read any of those photos, it’s best that you click on them to enlarge.
My son Aaron thinks that the first song I wrote is still my best. Here it is:
I don’t know if I agree that “I Don’t Like You” is my best, but it’s certainly not my worst.
If you want to share your personal best and/or worst of 2018, it’s best you do so in the comments section, below.
Every time I post, I do my best to thank all who help me blog every day and — of course! — YOU. Happy New Year!
