I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.
No April Fools for this one. This is a big one, and it’s likely important. The tip today is “call a loved one to catch up and really listen to them.”
I called my Mom recently. She’s in a retirement community, and locked down. There have been some illnesses among the staff and to avoid spreading, they have reduced some contact, ask most people to just stay in their rooms or apartments and deliver food. Fine for my Mom. She has a kindle, a piano, and enjoys the quiet. She exercises in her room and enjoys it.
Good catchup there.
Not so good for me as my Mom is fairly conservative and as of last week, she didn’t think we needed the shutdown, we should have all businesses open and “we don’t have that many cases.” This was before the US surpassed all other countries.
I try to be understanding and appreciate other points of view. I also think that a number of very conservative outlets are criminally negligent in downplaying the seriousness of this. I do think some liberal/progressive news outlets may be sounding too many alarms, but in the place where mistakes are serious, I can tolerate a little more chicken little news than dismissal.
So I listened, debated a bit, and tried to provide her company, swallowing some of the stress that this caused.
I’ll also have to do this again every few days. Looking forward to more virtual happy hours with friends that take me away from news.