Tag: life

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.

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.

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.

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 pick a new musical artist and listen to a few songs today.

I love music, and a few of my coping tips have noted that. One thing I used to do when I traveled on planes by myself was download a few albums from one artist and listen on the plane. It might be someone I knew a few songs from, or someone recommended to me.

For this tip, my wife turned me on to PJ Morton, who reminds me of Stevie Wonder. I downloaded a few albums of his the last time I flew in 2019.

On Spotify, there’s a “Fans Also Like” section for artists, and I decided to try someone else that was on that page for PJ Morton. I found Jonathan Nelson and gave him a try. It’ s a little more gospel/spiritual than I like, but not bad.

I also ran through an album from Ledisi, which is softer, quieter, and relaxing. I really enjoyed her.