Tag: coping

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 take time to start friendly conversations with people you don’t know.

I’m a bit of an introvert, and in general, I don’t look to engage in conversations with strangers too often. However, the separation and isolation of the pandemic has me changing a bit.

Mostly, I’ve been taking time in a restaurant to chat to a server, or more often now, an owner and ask them how they’re doing. In visiting a new exercise facility, I took a minute to ask the owner how life was, how things have changed, and what things they are proud of.

Not a long chat, but saving a few minutes to engage with someone and be friendly. Even with a mask.

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 take time to make a no plans for one day this weekend; be kind to yourself.

Ugh, this one is hard. I have a few things I need to get done. I’ve also got things to do next weekend. Without being able to travel or contact many people, my schedule is surprisingly busy.

However, two weekends ago, I went camping with my wife. It was vacation, and I didn’t make plans. In fact, I convinced her, that despite the fact we were with other people, let’s not plan each day. We slept in and didn’t even discuss what we might do until we were up, coffee’d (is that a word) and saw our friends.

Everyone was relaxed and in no hurry to accomplish anything each day. It was a nice time.

I need a few more of those days in my life. I struggle to actually implement them, usually planning at least something each 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.

Today’s tip is to take time to notice when someone is down and try to brighten their day.

In today’s world, it seems like every week someone isn’t doing well. I don’t contact a lot of people, but I certainly family and a few friends are sometimes not doing well.

Recently I reached out to one of my random people and they wrote back some texts, letting me know they were having a bad day. Actually a few bad days.

I went back and forth, offering support, but mostly just asking them to explain themselves, to talk (well, text), and unload a bit. I didn’t try to solve their problems, but I did make a few small jokes and spend time being engaged and available.

I think that helped.

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 take time to forgive someone who hurt you in the past.

This is a personal item. I think many of us feel wronged or hurt by others, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose. In either case, the event can be very upsetting and impactful to us.

I don’t want to publicly note who I’m forgiving, but I am making it a point to do so, and let someone know that I forgive their past transgression.

This is certainly something I need to work on. There are people that I feel have treated me poorly, and I haven’t forgiven them. I should let some things go, but I am struggling, especially when some people don’t seem to acknowledge their actions.