Category: Blog

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to have a no plans day. Be kind to yourself so you can be kind to others.

This. Is. Hard.

At least for me. I struggle to not plan and work on things. With a smoky area last week (worst air quality in the world), my wife bailed on work and finished chores and came in. I went out and worked on various chores.

This week I’m camping, with no work planned. Not today, but I’ve learned to just relax and enjoy these camping days. I do often plan something to cook, but I’ll do that ahead of time, so I don’t need to do anything other than put things together.

A little reading, a hike, play some guitar, play some cards with family. A nice, easy day.

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to look for the good in everyone today.

I’m writing this based on a recent day. When I saw this tip, I picked a day where I’d encounter a lot of people and made an effort to pay attention and do this. My log:

At the gym, the FexEx driver was walking up. I held the door and go a thank you, but  no smile and a little brusk. I assumed she was busy and stressed, as she jogged to a pile of packages, dropped hers, and then rushed out. Given the stress for many drivers, I assume she had other things on her mind, but appreciated the effort.

Receptionist was pleasant and greeted me, smiled, wished me a good workout.

A workman was using a dolly when I walked in from the pool. I hurried to hold a door for him. He said thank you, but didn’t really look back. I get it, he’s trying to get something done, and I’m sure he also appreciated the effort.

Stopped by the gas station, the cashier asked me about my volleyball shirt, did I play, what ages I coached, wished me well. A nice, short conversation that made me smile.

Oldest came home for dinner after a long day of work. Tired, a little stressed, but he thanked me for cooking, which isn’t necessary, but appreciated.

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to be thankful for your food and those who made it possible.

I’m camping this week, well, glamping.

Mostly I’m cooking for the family, but one night we reserved a meal from the hosts at the campground. They do a large rib dinner, and you can pre-purchase your meal and eat with the crowd. I did this last year, and it was wonderful.

I usually show my appreciation and say thanks, but I’m taking a few minutes this year to be extra thankful that I can go camping, afford the time off and cost of the meal, and there are others willing to prepare things for me.

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to do something to make life easier for someone else.

I do this all the time for family, but that’s easy. It’s a little harder to go out of your way for someone else.

I did have the chance to do this recently. I often wind up at a home store, for various reasons. Partly because I have lots of projects, partly because I forget to get everything I need for some projects.

As I was parking, I saw someone with a big load on a cart coming out to their car. I happened to park near them, and saw them starting to load up some bulky items. I asked if I could help, and spent a few minutes working with them to load some large sheets of plywood and some bulky boxes.

Not hard, and not even much of a difference for this random person. They would have been able to load things fine, but I made life a little easier.