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. All my coping tips are under this tag.

Today’s tip is to look for people doing good and reasons to be cheerful.

Early on in the pandemic I was entertained by Some Good News. John Krasinski. At a time when I was worried, scared, and a little depressed at the world, the short episodes reminded me of how wonderful the world is.

Lately, I’m a bit optimistic about space. SpaceX continues to launch rockets at a furious pace, showing the world that this doesn’t need to be as complex, costly, and time consuming as it has been in the past. My son works at ULA and is helping to test their next generation of cheaper rockets that can be used to create new opportunities. Another friend just started at Sierra Space, a new company that is aiming to build a space plane and commercial space stations.

While there is plenty to be concerned and worried about in life, I find these companies to be inspiring. As someone excited by science fiction, that loved the late Apollo and Space Shuttle missions in the 80s, and someone that thinks space and colonization of other planets can help us on this one, these are good things. These give me hope and excitement.

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 send a friend a photo from a time you enjoyed together.

I ran across this one the other day. Some of you might know this guy.

I haven’t seen him in years. I reached out and found him, then sent this along. A fun time at a conference years ago.

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 what you can do rather than what you can’t.

If the pandemic of the last two years has taught us anything, it’s that we need to adapt to a changing and uncertain world. We have to be malleable as the rules, restrictions, and requirements of life could be different today from yesterday. Or even from place to place today.

I’ve been lucky that I am healthy, I survived COVID twice, and I had the opportunity to travel. I have been happy to wear masks when required, or even when asked. I’ve put one one to accommodate others and make them feel safer. I don’t like masks, but I also don’t think it’s that much of a hassle to wear one.

I traveled to LA recently, just as the mask rules in US airports and airplanes were removed. I flew to LA without a mask, being on a plane for the first time in two years without my goatee itching from a face covering. A day later, as I returned to LAX, there was a mask restriction in place in the airport. I’ve gotten used to carrying them, so I put one on.

It’s easy to be annoyed by the changes, but for me, I was glad that I was able to travel and visit a place I enjoy going and see people I enjoy spending time with. I was ready to wear a mask on the plane, not really worrying or thinking about that. Instead, I was glad that I’d get to take off over the ocean and fly back across LA, seeing familiar and new sights.

Be positive and look forward when you can. It makes life much more enjoyable.

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 kind for someone you really care about.

My daughter is away at university, actually quite far away. We live in Colorado, and she is in New York. I miss her, and she’s had a hard year at school during a few stretches.

This spring, I’ve needed to send her a few things she requested from home. Each time, about every 6 weeks or so, I’ve gone to town to mail a package through the postal system. When I do, I usually stop by a store and find a few treats, usually chocolate. I add those to the package as a little surprise. I’ve also sent some treats or toys for her kitten.

It’s a small thing, but I really care about her and it’s a small kindness to get a surprise in the mail. I know I loved when my Mom did that for me.