Voice of the DBA

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.

Today’s tip is to think of three things that give you hope for the future.

Today especially, election day in the US, it likely feels hope is elusive for many, but I don’t feel that way. I do have some anxiety, but it’s mostly for the immediate changes in my country, not the future beyond the next year.

I do have hope and here are three things that I do cling to.

Individuals are good

Despite the disagreements I might have with many people about how specific issues, for the most part, I find that people I encounter in life, even in this crazy pandemic world, are good. They have compassion, empathy, and kindness towards others that stand in front of them. It’s important to remember that most of our world is still our live connections, not the digital ones.

The Next Generations Have Values Beyond Themselves

I don’t mean to imply that my generation doesn’t think this way, but I find that so many people overall think about themselves more so than anything else. They look at their situation, or their family’s, as much more important than anything else. They have short term thinking, in general.

Despite the vapid, immediacy of how so many young people view the world, I also find them to more often be thinking about the wider world, other cultures, the planet, and more abstract items, with less concern about money.

A vague generalization, but one I think is hopeful for the future of many aspects of the world.

We Locked Down

As much as a pain as it was, and as much disruption as it caused, regardless of effectiveness, I was amazed the world pulled together to shut down most air travel, most borders, and many businesses.

It was truly amazing to me that we were able to do this without too much resistance. I know that this has been contentious since then, but in March and April, the world amazed me. Much like I was impressed by efforts like this one.

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.

Today’s tip is to start the week by writing down your top priorities and plans.

It’s the start of a new month, and a new week. Let’s get organized.

Top priorities and plans:

1. DPS Presentations
2. Gym Time
3. Coaching Decisions
4. Database Weekly

These are the big items. The PASS Summit is next week, but two recordings are in, and the one I’m  going live I’ll practice again next week. For this week, I need to get things prepped for the Data Platform Summit, where I have 2 talks I need to record in the next couple weeks.

After that, I missed a week of the gym, feeling ill. I got back to things last week, but I want to continue to be on track here and take care of my body.

My volleyball team has been playing 15s and 16s tournaments, but it’s tough, so need to decide on a direction and move forward with that.

It’s Database Weekly week for me, so I need to keep working on that each day for a bit.