tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:27:05 +0000realityintrospectionmotivationintrospection realityrandomopinionsrantrationalitypoetryramblingcringeself carecomic reliefcomedy reliefA peek at the messy puree that is my mind...https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger794125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-4458248463796228581Wed, 11 Nov 2026 02:53:26 +00002026-11-11T18:49:22.749-05:00introspection realityRule seven of Og Mandino's "A Better Way to Live" states: "Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/11/reality-looms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-6575169666040897888Tue, 10 Nov 2026 01:32:20 +00002026-11-09T20:39:19.389-05:00comic reliefcringeopinions I have very cool cousins that recently educated me regarding the concept of the speakeasy. I have never been to one before. It was a fascinating experience, because of the unusual way to access it, the small space, and the openess of strangers to start a conversation. I'm not eager to go to another one anytime soon. I only really enjoyed it because I was with people I knew that I liked. I https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/11/secret-rooms-and-phantom-equines.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-4336304762429517187Fri, 06 Nov 2026 16:12:30 +00002026-11-06T15:14:19.161-05:00motivationrealityI started writing this (and have been updating it) at a boarding gate awaiting travel to Sin City to attend a gala this weekend. For someone in active pursuit of an ordinary sanctified life, what I'm about to do is go to the belly of the beast. Belly of the beast. I just saw that from someone's email message and I thought that it was the perfect expression to describe my excitement and feelings https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/11/port-of-entries.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-8032198637485222858Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:07:05 +00002026-10-24T15:08:45.876-04:00motivationYesterday, a man with a mobility device, at the end of his appointment, told the lady behind the counter: "Can I ask you one last favour?"Lady: "Yes."Man: "You go have a wonderful day! You didn't see that coming, eh?"Lady laughed.I smiled. Did I eavesdrop or simply overheard? One thing's for sure, it was nice to witness. You have a good day. Here's Chopin's Raindrop Prelude: listen here.https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/10/drops.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-1932325654212222918Mon, 05 Oct 2026 03:01:15 +00002026-10-04T23:01:15.290-04:00motivationrandomrealityI'm sharing my favourite song of all time as a way to end my birthday week. I've posted about my Beatles fanhood in the past, but I have to admit that the degree of said fanhood is much lesser now compared to when I was in grade school about thirty years ago. Also, I'm looking forward to that new Beatles biopic. This post is quite random and the truth is that I just bought a new wireless computerhttps://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/10/making-each-day-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-4100223977367559262Tue, 22 Sep 2026 01:02:42 +00002026-09-21T21:42:27.469-04:00randomrealityI've been seeing random clips of AI-generated videos of old scenes. You know those POV clips of a typical local mall in the 90s or Sunday mornings in the province? I love those. I'm writing this as I let my smart speaker play songs by Air Supply to set the mood (a typical weekend-morning staple on radio stations back then). Another thing I always feel nostalgic about is food. I missed Filipino https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/09/a-bout-of-nostalgia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-4787244937247041721Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:29:35 +00002026-09-07T23:15:39.203-04:00motivationopinionsreality'Idleness in this sense does not mean inactivity, but instead nonproductive activity. “Leisureliness,” says Daniel Dustin of the University of Utah, “refers to a pace of life that is not governed by the clock.' (Headlee, Celeste (2022). Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. Harmony Books, p.xix)How I've been trying to ameliorate the feeling of being https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/09/granted-leisure.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-5138751878201826553Sun, 16 Aug 2026 21:48:57 +00002026-08-16T22:40:10.905-04:00motivationrealityThe last time I mentioned the show Criminal Minds was in 2009 and one of my posts that year was entitled enumeration and I literally enumerated quotes from several episodes that stuck with me. We just rewatched seasons 1-5 and we're currently on season 6. It's impressive that the show is now in its 19th season. Thus far, I've added these two quotes to my list of impactful quotes, https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/08/tight-knit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-1048306947558415568Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:23:08 +00002026-07-16T11:23:08.205-04:00realitySource: Wikimedia Commons – Toronto Air Quality during 2026 wildfiresI'd much rather the sky looked like it had an Instagram Fade Warm filter. Instead, it's wildfire smoke. Thinking of everyone affected by this. The air isn't as orange today, but the smoke smells even stronger. Many of us were wearing masks while walking outside on the way to our destinations. As I take a brief coffee break at https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-fade-warm-filter-is-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-7489410324410823645Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:30:44 +00002026-07-13T09:45:05.197-04:00motivationopinionsI'm on vacation in the next few days, but I woke up too early this morning. It's still way too early to do anything at this lakeside location, so I've decided that I will take a morning siesta about 2 hours post-dawn breakfast since everyone's still asleep anyway. I could take a walk by the lake, but why spend this energy now when I can go all out later? So here I am, writing on my old, home https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/07/autoreplies-are-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-7735345169648030071Fri, 29 May 2026 20:41:21 +00002026-05-29T16:41:21.866-04:00motivationrealityI just checked out two books from Robarts Library for leisure. I hope I end up liking and finishing at least one of them. Currently, as I write these words, I have a Margaret Atwood book open in my Kindle app, and a browser tab containing Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence." I have Monday off, so this qualifies as a form of https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/05/antilibrary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-6998104421801205437Mon, 25 May 2026 13:42:24 +00002026-05-26T20:21:48.651-04:00poetryrealityI've allowed myself to be algorithmically persuaded. How can one not find Mary Bennet and Tom Hayward charming (from the series entitled The Other Bennet Sister)? The fourth episode is probably my favourite, with a particular scene involving Wordsworth's Composed Upon Westminster Bridge. A version of this poem was recited by Jonathan Pryce below. A good reference article to read that nicely https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-bar-is-now-sky-high.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-3827441154738345456Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:59:46 +00002026-04-26T22:59:46.457-04:00introspectionintrospection realityrandom It's Sunday evening and last night, when I was passing the time on the internet, the algorithm invited me to two ghost-themed topics: the film Ghosted and the Appalachian Mountains. I saw the film Ghosted when it was released about 3 years ago and enjoyed it very much. The plot was absolutely outrageous and hilarious and I enjoyed all the little symbolic details and dialogue. I forgot which https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/04/strange-algorithm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-1594940612937538212Sun, 19 Apr 2026 03:48:00 +00002026-07-17T22:28:54.014-04:00motivationreality Entrance to Emmanuel College Library, University of Toronto     I took the photo above a few days ago when I went to that location. My workload during this part of the year is unusually full and I became slightly ill during the latter part of this week, and thanks to loads of warm drinks including commercial and my own versions of honey citrus mint tea, I recovered quickly.&https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/04/head-over-heels-for-power-outlets.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-8200029994511076874Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:32:22 +00002026-03-17T17:44:43.155-04:00reality (File:An Arch leading to Sir Daniel Wilson Residence, University of Toronto.jpg. (2023, August 8). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:An_Arch_leading_to_Sir_Daniel_Wilson_Residence,_University_of_Toronto.jpg&oldid=791096022.)Let me tell you about this mostly unremarkable situation involving my library access. My access https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/03/between-buttery-and-owlery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-2929668174382252293Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:01:00 +00002026-02-27T11:06:18.875-05:00introspectionintrospection realityImage by Ri Butov from PixabayI’m reading Fast Asleep by Dr. Michael Mosley, and the “Challenging Your Thoughts” section on page 100 resonated with me. Like many others, I have thoughts that surface before I go to bed (or throughout the day), and these affect my sleep. Dr. Mosley suggests a bit of cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT, which I've actually gone through when I had therapy years https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/02/phone-extension.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-4953057627401064300Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:10:00 +00002026-02-22T18:32:16.586-05:00introspectionI've been writing for myself for approximately 30 years, which is equivalent to two-thirds of my life. That includes diaries and this medium here. I recently joined a mailing list of an academic centre focused on humanistic inquiry (they offer degree programs in philosophy, theology, and the like) that also features a variety of short workshops. They have an upcoming half-day workshop on writing https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/02/continue-to-give-myself-permission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-6171798359721659998Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:58:00 +00002026-02-22T18:35:04.881-05:00introspection realitymotivationI just saw a short clip of Amy Poehler and Claire Danes where they mentioned that they have the same enneagram: 8. So I became curious and tried to find out mine: 5. Last week, I determined my dominant female archetype(s): a tie across lover, creator, and mystic. I already knew since years ago that my personality is INFJ. So, I then took the short form of the Big Five IPIP test which is https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/01/further-self-examination.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-7951628301362970118Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:17:00 +00002026-01-23T11:17:09.999-05:00motivationThe first month of the year hasn't ended yet and I'm feeling fatigued. I attribute it to the depressing and bitterly cold weather, and it's threatening to get even colder. A quiet, summer lakeside getaway without an itinerary sounds fantastic. Just my family, some cooking, sunrises and sunsets, a body of water, and a whole lot of quiet nature. No pressure, private, and uninfluenced. That's enoughhttps://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/01/water-and-warmth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-1187775902312465011Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:35:00 +00002026-01-21T09:37:55.850-05:00randomA new year is here! Did the holidays involve some disruption by seasonal viruses and unpleasant weather? I'm sorry if that's the case.I borrowed this book by Dr. Michael Mosley entitled "Fast Asleep" and was reminded about the importance of sleep. Especially the part of our cycle involving deep sleep where our brain receives an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid as a sort of deep cleaning https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2026/01/predispositions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-7785718565513440030Mon, 29 Dec 2025 06:04:00 +00002026-01-03T17:08:21.001-05:00introspection realitymotivationWhere has time gone? I think that my perspective of time is wildly distorted because of the speed in which technology developed and continues to develop during my lifetime. I feel that 1975 to 2000 was a bigger interval compared to 2000 to 2025. Maybe it's the illusion given by 19xx compared to 20xx? Additionally, I feel ironic. I'm old yet I'm young. For the 1975-2000 era, I'm surely old...but https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-quarter-of-this-century-already.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-9039315056555265293Wed, 12 Nov 2025 01:27:00 +00002025-11-11T20:27:56.448-05:00introspectionIt’s a worry-filled day, and it’s probably a sign that I’m coming out of an almost burnout situation. That was about two weeks of nonstop, robotic hyper-processing with no mental real estate available for anything else. When the plate has been finally cleared, all these other stuff stampeded inside my head today. Unnecessary worry on top of exhaustion. I have to remind myself that I'm safe. I https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2025/11/cycling-through-cycles.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-7130610319586053128Sun, 26 Oct 2025 23:14:00 +00002025-10-26T19:14:30.131-04:00introspectionmotivation As the lunchtime celebration I attended earlier today was about to end, a large tray of fortune cookies was served. I grabbed one at the edge of the pile and got this:Although random and surely inconsequential, it's nice to feel like I'm interesting even if in a fictional sense. I thought about being some person with some relevant insights about some particular topic and people would https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2025/10/side-eye-ing-universe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-5482997606650825515Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:03:00 +00002025-10-23T20:14:33.158-04:00introspection realityrant Overwhelmed...I thought to share the section of the poem Desiderata that provides some comfort:"Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have ahttps://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2025/10/nourish-yourself-against-dark-imaginings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24977374.post-1638044697988976375Sat, 11 Oct 2025 01:34:00 +00002025-10-10T21:44:24.083-04:00comedy reliefintrospection realitymotivationMy Thursday involved back-to-back meetings and I was relieved by lunchtime when I was able to spend part of it in quiet meditation and then mass. The priest quoted part of St. John Henry Newman's poem, and I'm sharing it here below:Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,Lead Thou me on;The night is dark, and I am far from home,Lead Thou me on.Keep Thou my feet;I do not ask to see the https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/2025/10/lead-kindly-light.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0