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 listen to a piece of music without doing anything else.

I’m going to predict something here, since I’ll have taken a plane flight last night (when this publishes). The first one in over a year.

I tend to like to listen to music in airports. I’ll put on a playlist and watch people walk around. Or I’ll listen when I get on the plane and look out the window, just observing the world.

I’m with my wife this time, but there will be some times as we takeoff, before a beverage, when I’ll put on some headphones and just listen. Since I’m writing this a couple days before, I’m going to put on my “Fun for Dad” playlist, with songs my kids have sent me, and just enjoy the takeoff and view of the Colorado countryside.

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 appreciate your hands and all the things they enable.

Lately, I’ve appreciated my back more, since I threw it out trying to change implements on the tractor. However, today, I need to appreciate my hands.

First, I type with them. A lot. In some sense, my hands are my living in this business. Especially given how poorly voice recognition works for me.

Second, I play guitar. Not that well, but I’ve done a lot more in the last year, and I find it relaxing. Days when my hands are tired or sore, I notice it’s harder, and I appreciate that I can still move them. Hopefully for years.

Next, I work with wood on the ranch, often building or repairing things, and my hands are a big part of that.

There are other things, but I certainly appreciate all the things I can do with my hands.

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 walk a different route today and see what you notice.

I don’t walk a lot of places. I tend to drive to town, and usually park near where I need to go (gym or store). However, I did decide to try something different when I saw this tip.

I was going out to the barn to check on my wife. Usually this is out the garage, turn right, walk to the barn. This time I went out the front door, turned left, and looped around the house. I went around the riding arena in the back, looking at the state of that area after a winter. I checked out things that might need fixing, some things that might get thrown away, checked the fence to see if deer or coyotes (or my dogs) had damaged it.

A nice, easy walk, and a different view of a simple thing I often do. Just not in this way.

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 cultivate loving kindness towards others today.

Patience, understanding, empathy. Those have been more important in my life during the pandemic of the last year. I think it’s been especially important during those days when I don’t feel particularly happy. Really, when I’m grumpy.

A bit over a week ago there was an active shooter in Boulder, CO. My middle son goes to the University there, and while he’s not often on campus, he is there. The store was about a mile from campus, though I doubt my son has ever been to that store. Still, a slightly scary time as the campus locked down while he was there.

I wasn’t too worried about him, but the incident shook my wife. I needed to show understanding and kindness towards her scared, sad, and other feelings that day. I reminded myself, after a year of pandemic living, that my view isn’t others, and I need to accept and work with the way they feel.