The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally

Day 4764: Daydreaming

Posted on January 17, 2026 by Ann Koplow

When I was a kid and lost in thought, my parents called it daydreaming.

Daydreaming sounds better than distraction, absentmindedness, overthinking, or ruminating. Daydreaming is still one of my remedies for a painful present.

Do you see daydreaming in my images for today?

When I search for “daydreaming” on YouTube, I find this …

… this,

… this …

… and this:

Now I’m daydreaming about the comments I might get on this post. What are you daydreaming about?

Thanks to all who are here for my daydreaming, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Dr. Tracey Marks, Elizabeth Cox, January 17 2026, maladaptive daydreaming, Radiohead, The Benefits of Daydreaming, The Daily Bitch Calendar, trauma, Twitter | 3 Comments

Day 4763: Look It Up

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Ann Koplow

When I asked my parents what something meant, they often said, “Look it up.” Dutifully, I would look it up in one of our dictionaries or in our encyclopedia.

Yesterday in group, I told somebody who was wearing a hat that it was Hat Day and then I said, “Look it up.”

Last night I asked this question on Twitter; if you don’t believe me, look it up.

I’ve been including photos and other images in these daily blog posts for more than thirteen years. If you doubt me, look it up.

Chances are that I will cite one of those holidays and observances today and then say, “Look it up.” When I say “look it up,” I mean “I’m telling you the truth and there’s evidence that I don’t lie” (unlike the people in power in the USA).

Here’s what I find when I look up “look it up” on YouTube:

I’m always grateful to you and if you don’t believe that, you could look it up!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Ashton Shepherd, cats, January 16 2026, reference sources, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, vegetable stew, Wikipedia | 4 Comments

Day 4762: Unlikely

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Ann Koplow

It’s unlikely that the USA will ever go back to the country it was before MAGA and Trump.

It’s unlikely that The Onion will stop their unique brand of humor.

It’s unlikely that people will take down all their Christmas decorations after January 1 and it’s unlikely that my husband Michael will stop being opinionated about that.

Do you see anything unlikely in my images for today?

It’s unlikely that I’ll stop discovering movies, like Ken Russell’s *The Boyfriend*

Here’s what I find when I search for “unlikely” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are here for this unlikely post, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: beef stew, cats, January 15 2026, Ken Russell, movies recently discovered, TED talk by Dhilan Stanley, The Boyfriend, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Onion, Twitter, unlikely friendships | 10 Comments

Day 4761: Chill

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Ann Koplow

These days, there is a chill in the air — in the beautiful city of Minneapolis and elsewhere.

What ICE is doing is chilling and the world can see residents trying to chill while also protecting their neighbors, lest they set off the heat of more violence.

Yesterday, my manager asked how she could help me from being too harsh on myself in certain situations and I told her to just say “Chill.”

Shall we all chill as we look at my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “chill” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who help me chill during these chilling times, including YOU.

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Amanda Gorman, cats, ICE in Minneapolis, Less Grind More Chill, poetry, Taipei Cuisine, TED talk by Eso Tolson, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4760: Fragile

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Ann Koplow

How fragile is this country? How fragile are relationships? How fragile are people’s feelings?

As a therapist, I often deal with people’s fears about what seems fragile. I invite them to consider that things and people may not be as fragile as they fear.

In my groups, members talk about having to walk on eggshells around others and also about how liberating it feels when they shift that fragile mindset.

Personally, I’ve been feeling less fragile lately as I focus on the fact that I am still alive and healthy after 73 challenging years.

Last night, on my way home from work, I saw this:

Do you see anything fragile in my other images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “fragile” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are here for this fragile post, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Fragile" performed by Sting and Stevie Wonder, audiobooks I’m listening to, cats, Coping and Healing group, January 12 2026, letting go of fear, salmon dish, tea, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 19 Comments

Day 4759: Trying our hardest

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Sometimes it’s hard to try our hardest, especially when life is hard.

I’m trying hard not to try my hardest all the time because, honestly, we all need a break.

Now, let’s be trying our hardest to find relevant connections in my images for today.

Now I’m going to try my hardest to find something on YouTube that completes this post.

Because I was trying my hardest, I also found this about trying our hardest.

Thanks to all who are here for this trying-our-hardest post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “Try Your Hardest” by Malachy Breen, gratitude, International Thank-You Day, January 12 2026, Kara Ronin, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, Why High Performers Don’t Get Promoted, winter stew, Work Harder Day | 12 Comments

Day 4758: Peculiar

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, on National Peculiar People Day, this peculiar person attended a protest of peculiar and dangerous actions committed by the peculiar people running my peculiar nation.

Is it peculiar to include one of my favorites tunes here?

Do you see anything peculiar in my images for today?

On International Thank-You Day, many thanks to all who are here for my peculiar posts, including YOU!!

Categories: gratitude, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “Ain’t That Peculiar” Marvin Gaye, International Thank-You Day, January 11 2026, National Peculiar People Day, protest about ICE, protest signs, the killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE, Twitter, Via Cannuccia restaurant | 8 Comments

Day 4757: Faith

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Ann Koplow

When I went to visit the wonderful family of my recently deceased, beloved cousin Marilyn yesterday, we practiced our faith by reciting the mourner’s Kaddish. We also honored her memory by sharing stories about her kindness, generosity, love of life, and commitment to her faith, family, and friends.

I had faith that two of my dear friends would do well with scheduled surgeries this week, and they did.

I have enough faith in the power of peaceful protest to show up for this event in Boston today: