Yes, we will move away from computers and metafiles and all kinds of forensic things. There are times you have to change the scenery or, in my case, change the topic.
If you own a company and have not put together a business continuity plan by now, the Virus has undoubtedly made it abundantly clear just how much you screwed up.
I am not going to visit with you about disaster recovery or forensic computing today.
Switching gears, I want to talk about the need to stimulate your brain. Yes, I want to talk about mental health but not in some psychobabble, couch lying, you hate your mother kind of way.
One of the first things I would encourage you to do is change what is ‘normal.’ Insert routine for Normal.
I am the president of a writer’s group in North Texas. In a few weeks, many of us’ non-essential’ employees will have been homebound for the better part of a year. Virtual is not stimulating.
When we began to communicate via e-mail back in the early 80’s, I quickly realized just how wrong things could go without the visual or verbal cues we get from in-person communication.
Here we are a year into this Virus, and we don’t see others. If we do, they and you are wearing a mask. We have lost touch, or are losing touch with our humanity. We have celebrities of all things, preaching from their ivory privileged towers that anyone who does not see something the way that they do, need to be punished. Can we talk about having lost our collective minds?
As a celebrity, you have a responsibility to be that voice of reason. WTF people?
I was thinking about this, wondering if this is how Jesus met his end? It is mob mentality, and it is time to put a stop to it. How?
With Zoom or some other webcam communication, we now can see a face, smile, and yes, sometimes we catch a hint of your home life, including your underwear.
I have witnessed people in their pajamas, and yes, we catch a glimpse into your home. Is it a bad thing?
What would it be like to have a national underwear day? I think the distraction would be humorous, delightful, and would shake many out of their comfort zone. I worked in the medical center for years. The sight was not pretty but think about it—a dose of reality. We need something like that to get us talking about other things than the Virus, or politics. National Underwear Day #nud
We need to come together as a people, human people, and make a point of how much the same we are.
I visited a nudist beach once—clothing optional. Folks, that is a humbling and awakening realization. Quickly you see just how insignificant you are in the overall scheme of things.
No Mika, you don’t need to tell me what to think. To the rest of the news media, I have a brain; tell me the facts. I don’t care if you live in a gated community; when your clothes come off, you are no better than I am.
You have heard of the ugly Christmas Sweater. How about we have a national underwear day and…we add the qualifier’ audacious.’
People go to the beach wearing less, why not?
Do you realize that would trend in no time? Do it…#nud You know you want to…
We need the small-minded in Hollywood and DC to come to grips with the facts that this is the United States of America and not America’s playground for the rich and famous.
Would a bearing of the souls as it were, cause us to come to grips with we are all the same?
If you strip away the thousand dollar blouses and other designer clothes, would we then see that we are not so different?
Let’s talk about normal, shall we?
Here is the first thing you should change if you have not already done so. When you crawl out of bed, act as if you are going to the office.
Shower, dress as you would, and yes, make the morning coffee or whatever you would do if you commute.
Arrange to have as many of those calls as possible with the camera on. That face-to-face time is essential in keeping not only you but your co-workers from feeling isolated.
Keep regular hours.
Turn off the news.
I will not go into a long rant about how craven they are or how they only have ratings on their mind as they spin the facts. Unless they are Pollyanna or Walter Cronkite comes back and tells you how it is, turn it off.
I am beyond sick of the bias that exists on both sides.
Be careful about any online news sources as they have ratings (in the form of clicks) as their determining factor of what gets published.
Reagan said to vote with your feet; I say vote with the garbage you allow into your head.
Social media is another excellent place to either visit or abandon. Many keep up with their family and friends, but what they ingest via the news often makes it onto your plate. I have found that snooze works well for those who are eaten up with the desire to ruin your life.
There is something about using the bathroom and ingesting information from social media at the same time. It all stinks. Remember this one fact. If what you are consuming jerks at any emotion, you are being manipulated.
So, what can you do to keep your sanity?
I am so glad you ask.
Diversify what you do. While we joke about vacationing to the garage, we will have spring here in North America before you realize it. Today we hit 66 in Dallas. The heat is off, the windows are open, and I spent time in the sun.
Yes, indeed, ladies and gentlemen, get outside!
I usually have my first cup of coffee in the sunshine if at all possible. Your brain needs that light to set your circadian rhythm. There are probably hormones and chemicals released too, so get outside, even if the weather is not great, stay warm or dry but get some fresh air.
Along with writing and other hobbies, I have taken to ‘tinkering’ with a 3d printer.
If you have ever wanted a challenge, a 3d printer is the ticket. For less than $200, you can find one at WOOT or Amazon. These things do not come out of the box ready to print.
Opening the box is a daunting process. The thing is a kit.
Don’t chicken out or turn away; embrace the challenge.
There are many videos online on how to get it started, and then many more groups that I feel are more like support groups for those afflicted with 3D itis … Yes, I invented the term.
While this challenge is not for the faint of heart, it is much like learning cross-stitch or knitting.
Over the last year, I have gone back and re-taught myself many things. School subjects that I did poorly in now make sense to me. My poor English teacher would probably die again if she knew I was writing and president of the league.
Not only have I published in international magazines, but I have over 30 novels.
Math and history were not interesting to me in school, and now I see them for what they are. With the internet, there is no limit to the information at our fingertips.
In a roundabout way, I am trying to say this, turn off the damned idiot box and learn something. Netflix and other entertainment sources are fine, but you can use this time to teach yourself new skills.
I have determined that the Raspberry Pi is a handy computer for the price. No, it is not difficult.
There are tiny microprocessors known as ESP 8266 that are great fun to learn and play with, regardless of age or gender. (you are never too old.)
As long as this blog post makes sense to you, go forth and enjoy.
Once you look at this time as a positive thing instead of a poor me moment, you can use it to your advantage.
The last bit of advice I would offer to you is this, don’t give the politicians the time of day.
Biden spent 1.5 Billion dollars, much of which came from dark money. He will be paying those favors back, which is why what he is signing seems counterintuitive to unity, from killing the Keystone to raising the price of insulin. Dark money came from special interests, and it doesn’t take a lot of intelligence to figure out who or from which organization.
Hate is a poison you take in hopes that it will affect someone else.
Anger is beating yourself up for the mistakes of someone else.
Did you know that once you print something with your 3D printer, it is damned hard and sturdy?
Yeah, focus on what you can control and let the other stuff vanish.
Take care of yourselves and those that you care about. This Virus will not keep us down forever, and anything that guy does with an executive order can be undone with another.
If you see #TEXIT trend, then you might want to watch the news.
-Best
PS…I would not be shocked to see #FEXIT and #TEXIT trend in the upcoming months.
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