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 have a no plans day and notice how that feels.

Incredibly hard for me to do this. I really, really struggle. How so? A little story.

After a volleyball tournament recently, an all day (5am wakeup, arrive by 7, busy until 330p), I got some food and drove home. I got home around 530. As I was close to home, my wife noted that the generator outside wasn’t working right and she was hoping to do a training session with a horse. Mind you, she was with me all day and then needed to go pick up this horse.

I was looking forward to unwinding at night, play a little guitar and rest. Instead, I got out there, dragged a second generator out there, hooked it up, tested lights, then dragged the old one in. I stood in the barn reading for about 20 minutes until she arrived. I explained how things were working, then went inside.

I could have told her we need to let this go for a day, but I didn’t. I had been somewhat productive coaching during the day, but it wasn’t enough. Not for her either.

This weekend I’m going to try this on Sunday. We are visiting our daughter in NY, and I’ll work Friday while she’s in class, and Sat we have plans to watch volleyball and go to a TedX talk.  Sunday, however, I’m not making plans. I want to just see how things go, what my daughter wants to do and just flow with the day. No plans, no worries. If I work out, great. If not, no plans.

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 eat mindfully. Appreciate the texture, taste, and smell of your food.

I don’t do this too often, especially lately. I have a plainer diet, though I am slowing down how I eat and appreciating the few things I do eat.

However, I was invited to an amazing dinner by Brent Ozar in London and I went out of my way to try and appreciate the food. I’m not a foodie, but I did enjoy the time at one of Gordon Ramey’s restaurants where the chefs are trying to show off.

This was an oyster. Looks like an oyster, but it was jellied, like a gummi bear or other jell candy. Softer, and quite amazing. I don’t love oysters, but this was something special, with the jellied taste instead of a slimy one.

Roast duck was amazing. The presentation was something, as we saw the whole duck. But then this slice smelled wonderful, and it was tender and full of the duck flavor, with a blend of spices accenting things. The side was turnips, with a turnip puree as a paste. Not a fan, usually, but this was an enjoyable bite.

The fish was great. Cod, but with caviar on it, and potatoes under. The popping of the caviar, slightly salty, with a very tender, flaky fish. Amazing.

There was more, and all of it made for a wonderfully memorable evening.

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 take three calming breaths at regular intervals during the day.

This is an easy one for me. Since I’ve been practicing yoga for 10-12 years, I often find myself taking more conscious breaths at times. Fill up deeply, hold briefly, and slowly let them out.

It’s amazing how calming 3-4 deep breaths can be.

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 start today appreciating your body and health and the fact you are alive.

I do this often. I’m in the midst of working to lose some weight and get healthier. This is a slightly stressful place as I have an appointment scheduled to re-test my blood in a week or so.

However, every day I can go to the gym, I can practice yoga or lift weights, I’m grateful. Each time I think about the things I want to change, I think about how lucky I am to not have any major chronic issues.

Maybe not every time, but many times. I do think that I am lucky to not have had any major health issues, and I survived COVID (twice) without long term effects. I’m also fairly healthy, fit, and happy to be alive.