Voice of the DBA

Tag: coping

  • Daily Coping 3 May 2021

    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 go outside and spend a few minutes appreciating the weather.

    It’s spring here, though I know the Southern Hemisphere is preparing for winter. In either case, I suspect most of us don’t have extreme weather on some of these days, so getting outside should be possible. I had a 25C day and a –10C day in the same week not long ago, and I took advantage of the 25C day to get out, do a few things outside, and enjoy the day.

    I also walked around in the –10C day, bundled up, but enjoying the snow coming down. It’s a beautiful sight when the ground gets covered, especially without much wind. Wind makes things much worse.

    However, the weather is one of those things that helps me appreciate how big and amazing the world is, and taking a moment to enjoy it, no matter what is happening, is a part of life I’ve learned to appreciate.

    Update: Today I drop to 3 newsletters a week at SQLServerCentral, as a way of coping a bit. I’ll still do daily coping tips here.

  • Daily Coping 30 Apr 2021

    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 meet a friend outside for a chat, and hopefully a walk.

    A couple weeks ago I actually met someone in my local area that I hadn’t seen in over a year. We had been on a few video calls, but nothing in person. We met outside and went for a walk for an hour, chatting about life and the local area.

    It was a great way to spend part of my afternoon.

    Today, I’ll do more of that, but with my wife and potentially a few others. I’m in Omaha today, coaching kids this afternoon in a tournament. However, before that I’m hoping to take a short walk, with some kids and parents. There’s a nice bridge by the convention center, the Bob Kerrey bridge where you can stand on the Nebraska/Iowa line.

    At the very least, I’ll get the chance to walk around quite a bit from the hotel to the convention center and be outside with others.

  • Daily Coping 29 Apr 2021

    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 focus on check up on a friend and see if you can help them cope.

    One of the things I did early in the pandemic was to check up on friends. I’ve fallen away a bit, but I am still trying to remember to touch base. Recently I reached out to someone whose named I saw on Twitter, but I hadn’t seen them very active. Not many posts, not many blogs, just a bit quiet.

    I will usually send a short message like this one:

    Hi. I hope you’re doing well and coping with life. I hadn’t chatted with you in awhile, so I wanted to check in and make sure you are doing OK.

    I usually change this a bit, depending on who it is, or how I’m reaching out. Texts are usually shorter, emails maybe longer, but often just trying to make a connection with someone I haven’t seen in quite some time.

  • Daily Coping 28 Apr 2021

    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 focus on a eating a “rainbow” of vegetables today.

    I like cooking. I find it relaxing, especially when I’m not rushed and can have a glass of wine while I work. Most days now it’s just my wife and I, and she is a good influence in trying to get me to cook a little healthier.

    Recently I found a recipe for Primavera Stuffed Chicken a few weeks ago and decided to try it. My oldest son was coming by for dinner, and I knew he’d enjoy it as well. I spiced it up by adding some yellow squash and asparagus as well, getting some more vegetables in there. With a salad that had some purple leaves and colored tomatoes, I think I got a nice rainbow.