I suppose, given the nature of frustration, it is hard to believe that anything positive could come from it. The definition of frustration has no negative aspects, at least on the surface. Frustration is an emotion we feel when a goal (need, want, desire, etc.) is blocked by something or someone. Internal frustration comes from our own doing--lack of skill, poor choices, etc. External frustration comes from something outside of our realm of control. Nonsocial frustration stems from an inanimate object that is not directly linked to a person, such as a dead battery or lousy weather. Social frustration occurs when the actions or presence of another person seems to be blocking us from achieving our goals--too many people in line, someone driving too slowly, the person who bought the last copy of the game you wanted right before you could snag it yourself.
I find that when my stress level begins to skyrocket I experience much more frustration than usual. Maybe it just gets to me more when I am more mentally vulnerable. At the moment, I am experiencing all 3 forms of frustration. Social frustration is coming from people parking in my designated spot at work and someone walking off with one of my textbooks from my office. I am also finding social frustration in the form of demands (pressure, really) from work--end-of-year paperwork and grading coming around because students are turning in work and people are requesting administrative paperwork all at the same time. It's just the nature of the job, I know. But my goals--finish all my work so I can take a mental break--are pushed back further every time someone else makes a demand/request for something from me. A more recent source of social frustration, which blends with a nonsocial, technology related source, is the lack of printing abilities at my office at the moment. It appears that someone has managed to monkey with the settings on the office PC and the printer is no longer responding. In other words, I cannot print anything for my classes at the moment.
My nonsocial frustration sources are time (my second archenemy; gravity is my main nemesis), uncooperative electronics, and a misbehaving car. There never seems to be enough time. I know most of this is because of my choices--see internal frustrations below. It doesn't help, though, that time is finite and deadlines don't move. In the realm of uncooperative electronics, my phone has developed a tendency to randomly "click" (it's a stupid "smart" phone with a touch screen) on things or to refuse to let me select things in the middle of the screen. It also has a nasty habit of draining its battery 10 seconds after I turn it on after my classes (I turn it off during class to try to set a good example for my students, or at least not be a hypocrite in front of them). My car functions all right, once it does start. The problem is it refuses to communicate with the key fob. The car is designed for key-less entry and ignition, so long as the key is within a certain distance. It sometimes takes me a few minutes, combined with creative language and facial contortions, to get the buttons on either the car or the key fob to respond. I'm beginning to wonder if I have an electromagnetic pulse running through my blood that is interfering with both the car's electronics and my cell phone.
Internal frustration is probably the biggest culprit at the moment, mostly because I have no one to blame. Only I can shoulder the responsibility of the decisions I make. I feel as if I haven't been planning things well enough so that I could handle the work load. I should (an irrational word, to be sure!) know better. After all, I've been in the particular position for the past 5 years. I've had the same work-cycle for enough time that it ought (another irrational command word!) to be easy for me to plan far ahead so all my little ducks are in a row and my stress level becomes more manageable. I could find many excuses to deflect some of the responsibility away from myself. There have been significant changes to class schedules and such made this year, many of them this semester. However, if I had been prepared for a normal year, then it is possible I should have been able to tackle the new stress with little extra effort. Yeah, that didn't quite work out so far. Yes, I am disappointed with my apparent inability to juggle my workload, my duties as a mother, my housekeeping responsibilities, and my requirements as an adult in a committed relationship. I'm a work in progress, to be sure; very slow progress.
So, where's the silver lining? That's the point of this blog, isn't it? Well, here it is. Frustration often provides an opportunity for creativity and expanding my view of the world. When I am blocked from a goal, such as the printing situation mentioned above, it forces (encourages, really) me to find an alternative route to accomplish what I need to accomplish. This also helps me appreciate more the resources I have at my disposal that I do not always use. For example, I don't usually print anything in my classroom because I typically make many copies for my students of most of the things I print. However, when all I need are a couple of pages, such as the sign-in sheets so I can take daily roll, I am ever so grateful to have the printer in my classroom. In the case of the missing textbook, I found I was ever so thankful that I happened to have a copy at home. True, I now have to lug it around with me to get work done in the office, but at least I can still work. Internal frustration often leads to my reexamining my attitudes. Often when I find myself becoming angry with my poor choices, realizing that only I am responsible for them, I also realize that I can change them. That's a very empowering, albeit sometimes frightening, thought. I have the choice to get angry at myself or to do things differently. I also start to realize that not all of my internal frustration has to be solved by myself. I do have a social support network that I can call upon to help me when I have too much on my plate. I sometimes swallow my pride and delegate (sometimes I actually ask) some of my tasks to others (usually my husband and my daughter, usually household-related tasks) so that I can concentrate on those tasks that only I can do. For example, I can ask my husband to wash the dishes or make dinner tonight so that I can have more time to finish my lecture notes. I also have a loving daughter whose hugs help much of my stress and frustration melt away.
Frustration, especially when I feel overwhelmed beyond my mere mortal
capacity to handle any more and the universe continues to shovel it my
way, can sometimes lead to a shut-down. I don't mean I'm headed for a
mental breakdown. I certainly hope not, though the cold that is tickling
at the back of my throat may promise to slow me down. I mean it's
probably time for me to reboot my thinking and time management. This is
usually the time in my stress cycle that I whip out the 4-mile long
to-do list, extend its length my a factor of 5, and start slowly and
methodically chopping it down. It will be a while before I make my way
through the mire of the frustration and resulting stress that I am in
the midst of at the moment, but I WILL start to methodically climb my way out of this muck and find my sanity once again.
I have faith that my freedom is just around the corner and the "clear skies" will last at least long enough for me to optimistically plan for my next cycle of workload/work-life stress--summer classes!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Using Parcheesi to Review Catholic Catechism
I have a tendency to make odd connections between two seemingly unrelated subjects in my efforts to gain understanding of the universe around me.I do this with just about every TV show I watch, making connections with psychology (sometimes it's just in a vain effort to find a reasonable excuse to show the program in my classes). I also sometimes make connections with games and life lessons. A couple years ago, when I first taught CCD ("Sunday school") at my parish, I ran into a two or three weeks when I knew I would not have too many kids in my class--it was spring break time, so most of them were out of town with their families. I did not want to teach an in-depth lesson to just a few students. One of my personal pet peeves is having to repeat myself, though you wouldn't know that to watch me teach, as I feel I repeat myself too much because there's always someone who wasn't paying attention. Well, we were in Lent and we had just finished learning about the seven deadly sins and their counter cardinal virtues (I use Spongebob to bring this lesson home). I wanted the few dedicated students to have a break from lecture, but still learn a life lesson. I decided to use Parcheesi as an illustration of our life path and how we can sometimes face setbacks on our way to heaven. Like my students, you might have to open your mind to metaphorical thought to follow me. And I did use this "life lesson" recently with my 7th and 8th grade CCD students this past week.
Starting Out
In Catholicism, we believe that the best way to start out on your path to heaven is through baptism. We strongly encourage baptism of infants so that they can make their way through life, with the help of their parents and godparents, from the beginning with a clean start. Sometimes a person does not get the opportunity to receive baptism in infancy. Sometimes they have to wait until later in their life. Not everyone gets to start off at the same time or under the same circumstances.
In Parcheesi, everyone has to start out on a roll of 5--either an actual 5 or a 1+4 or 2+3. As with baptism, some people get to start out early (the dice come out favorably) and some people have to wait quite a while before the right roll comes along.
Goal
The ultimate goal in life for Catholics is to reach Heaven so that we can be united with God. For some people this path is easy and smooth. For others, it is fraught with temptation, peril, "bad luck" and poor choices. We all go at our own pace through life, determined by a myriad of variables that include our own decisions.
The goal in Parcheesi is to make it "Home" with all of your animals. We hope to be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven, just as our little elephants want to all make it to their Home zone. Some players will be able to make it quickly, some will face many obstacles (in the form of dice rolls and other players' choices, as well as their own decisions) on their journey home.
Blockades and Obstacles
We face many obstacles in life on our way to heaven. Sometimes our path is blocked by temptation. When we sin we send ourselves back on our path. We can get back on the path through Reconciliation and penance. Sometimes our path is blocked by the decisions of others. Other people can stand in our way and try to prevent us from doing good (or just avoiding evil) by offering temptation or by trying to force our hands. Sometimes they do wrong to us and we want to avenge that wrong. This, too, can become a divergent path toward sin. One of the main lessons of Catholicism (any Christian faith, actually, as it comes directly from Jesus) is to treat your fellow humans with compassion, to be considerate of them, to do no harm. Unfortunately, sometimes it is easier said than done as we stumble along and lose sight of our end goal--getting into Heaven.
This is actually the main reason I decided to use Parcheesi in my CCD class. The game is set up to create opportunities to block other players in the hope of getting your animals home first while you stall others. Unfortunately, a blockade requires you to keep two of your pieces permanently in place, meaning the most you can do is get your other two pieces home while you block everyone else. We cannot move forward in the game until the barrier is removed. Just as in life, when we try to create a barrier for someone else, it ends up biting us back. Plus, as Parcheesi is a competitive game, creating that blockade often inspires the other players to do the same thing to you. And, when another player "captures" one of your animals, it has to start all over again. This parallels the idea of penance. Once the proper dice roll comes up, you can start back on the path to home in the game. Once you have completed your penance, you can regain your sanctifying grace and return to your path back to Heaven.
Decisions to Cooperate or Compete
We come across many opportunities in life to either work with our fellow humans so that everyone can benefit or to try to maximize our personal benefit at the expense of someone else. It is not meant to be an easy pathway. If life were simple or obvious, then Heaven would probably not be much of a reward because you would not have worked for it.
Parcheesi is set up the same way. Some players try to be cooperative with others, setting up truces and making deals to not interfere too much with each other. Unfortunately, like many truces in life, a better one may come along. Alliances and loyalties may shift. After all, the end goal is ultimately to get your pieces home, to get your soul into Heaven. I suppose we might be selfish by nature, or we just haven't found a way to make cooperation maximize our personal benefit. Cooperation always seems like we have to give up something from our realm so that another person can be raised to the same level. Fairness is in the eye of the beholder and most people's idea of fairness is whatever profits themselves.
Numbers
One other random parallel I noticed between Parcheesi and Catholicism is numbers, specifically the number 7 and the number 12. There are 7 spaces from your start to the next safe space. When your animal is on a safe space (a lotus), it cannot be captured (sent back to start). There are 7 sacraments, 7 deadly sins, 7 cardinal virtues, 7 seals of the apocalypse, and probably many more sevens throughout Catholicism. Parcheesi also has 7 spaces within your home path, which are the last spaces you need to climb before your goal. The game board has a total of 12 lotus spaces. This can be used to remind students of the 12 apostles. Okay, that last one was obvious, but remember, I use this to teach and remind my students about our faith.
In Catholicism, we believe that the best way to start out on your path to heaven is through baptism. We strongly encourage baptism of infants so that they can make their way through life, with the help of their parents and godparents, from the beginning with a clean start. Sometimes a person does not get the opportunity to receive baptism in infancy. Sometimes they have to wait until later in their life. Not everyone gets to start off at the same time or under the same circumstances.
In Parcheesi, everyone has to start out on a roll of 5--either an actual 5 or a 1+4 or 2+3. As with baptism, some people get to start out early (the dice come out favorably) and some people have to wait quite a while before the right roll comes along.
Goal
The ultimate goal in life for Catholics is to reach Heaven so that we can be united with God. For some people this path is easy and smooth. For others, it is fraught with temptation, peril, "bad luck" and poor choices. We all go at our own pace through life, determined by a myriad of variables that include our own decisions.
The goal in Parcheesi is to make it "Home" with all of your animals. We hope to be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven, just as our little elephants want to all make it to their Home zone. Some players will be able to make it quickly, some will face many obstacles (in the form of dice rolls and other players' choices, as well as their own decisions) on their journey home.
Blockades and Obstacles
We face many obstacles in life on our way to heaven. Sometimes our path is blocked by temptation. When we sin we send ourselves back on our path. We can get back on the path through Reconciliation and penance. Sometimes our path is blocked by the decisions of others. Other people can stand in our way and try to prevent us from doing good (or just avoiding evil) by offering temptation or by trying to force our hands. Sometimes they do wrong to us and we want to avenge that wrong. This, too, can become a divergent path toward sin. One of the main lessons of Catholicism (any Christian faith, actually, as it comes directly from Jesus) is to treat your fellow humans with compassion, to be considerate of them, to do no harm. Unfortunately, sometimes it is easier said than done as we stumble along and lose sight of our end goal--getting into Heaven.
This is actually the main reason I decided to use Parcheesi in my CCD class. The game is set up to create opportunities to block other players in the hope of getting your animals home first while you stall others. Unfortunately, a blockade requires you to keep two of your pieces permanently in place, meaning the most you can do is get your other two pieces home while you block everyone else. We cannot move forward in the game until the barrier is removed. Just as in life, when we try to create a barrier for someone else, it ends up biting us back. Plus, as Parcheesi is a competitive game, creating that blockade often inspires the other players to do the same thing to you. And, when another player "captures" one of your animals, it has to start all over again. This parallels the idea of penance. Once the proper dice roll comes up, you can start back on the path to home in the game. Once you have completed your penance, you can regain your sanctifying grace and return to your path back to Heaven.
Decisions to Cooperate or Compete
We come across many opportunities in life to either work with our fellow humans so that everyone can benefit or to try to maximize our personal benefit at the expense of someone else. It is not meant to be an easy pathway. If life were simple or obvious, then Heaven would probably not be much of a reward because you would not have worked for it.
Parcheesi is set up the same way. Some players try to be cooperative with others, setting up truces and making deals to not interfere too much with each other. Unfortunately, like many truces in life, a better one may come along. Alliances and loyalties may shift. After all, the end goal is ultimately to get your pieces home, to get your soul into Heaven. I suppose we might be selfish by nature, or we just haven't found a way to make cooperation maximize our personal benefit. Cooperation always seems like we have to give up something from our realm so that another person can be raised to the same level. Fairness is in the eye of the beholder and most people's idea of fairness is whatever profits themselves.
Numbers
One other random parallel I noticed between Parcheesi and Catholicism is numbers, specifically the number 7 and the number 12. There are 7 spaces from your start to the next safe space. When your animal is on a safe space (a lotus), it cannot be captured (sent back to start). There are 7 sacraments, 7 deadly sins, 7 cardinal virtues, 7 seals of the apocalypse, and probably many more sevens throughout Catholicism. Parcheesi also has 7 spaces within your home path, which are the last spaces you need to climb before your goal. The game board has a total of 12 lotus spaces. This can be used to remind students of the 12 apostles. Okay, that last one was obvious, but remember, I use this to teach and remind my students about our faith.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Common Cold: A Calling Card from the Universe
I abhor being sick. I don't care for the feelings of powerlessness or lack of control that comes with any sickness. While I don't get sick too often (no more than once a month), and I rarely become seriously ill ([knock wood] I've never had the flu or missed more than one day of work for sickness, and even then it was a day I went home early), I don't particularly care for any down time from illness. I see the common cold as the wuss of all diseases. You are nowhere near your deathbed. People rarely have any sympathy for you because the virus will run its course in short order, yet they don't want to get anywhere near you for fear of catching it. What I personally despise about a cold is the congestion. I have issues with breathing, and anything that impedes my already sub-par breathing abilities just becomes a major thorn in my side.
Wait, isn't this supposed to be a gratitude blog? I'm getting to that. As my older brother used to say, "first worst, best last." Sometimes I find it easier to find the silver lining if I get all the "doom and gloom" thoughts out of the way. So, what could be the upswing of a wussy yet ostracizing cold?
Every once in a while I actually take a step back and ask myself just that question. After much deliberation, I figured out that sometimes a cold is my body's way of telling me that I need to relax. I don't mean vegging on the couch or playing games all day. I mean actually resting. When we get sick, be it from a simple cold or from a more serious illness, one of the greatest demands our bodies make on us is for SLEEP. Our bodies actually get a lot of maintenance and repair work done while we sleep, which is why it is so essential for mental and physical health. The more stress we experience, the harder we push ourselves, the more likely we are going to get sick. This isn't just rhetoric, there are actual medical and psychological studies showing a very strong relationship between stress, socialization, and illness. There is even a whole field of psychology--psychoneuroimmunology--dedicated to studying the link between mental health and physiological health.
In my moments of insightful wisdom, I realize that I often get a weak cold when I have more on my proverbial plate that I can intelligently handle at the time. The sickness generates a mindset of "it can wait" and I put off everything for a day or two while I get some apparently much-needed sleep. I do not completely shut down, but I do step back significantly. I pull out my Plan B so that I can feel like I accomplish something during my work day (I teach, so this is usually pretty easy for me to do) and I slip into organizing mode. True, dishes may pile up and the laundry might get pushed off for another day while I am napping. However, once I feel better, once I regain my physical AND mental energy, I can quickly catch up on things with a History Channel or psychological crime drama (Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU are great) marathon in the evenings or on a weekend. I watch a lot of History Channel while doing chores; that's what fills about a quarter of my Tivo. Of course, I would not be able to do this if it weren't for the support of my husband. After 11 years of marriage we have learned a lot about quietly adapting to each other. We are lucky enough that we usually do not get sick or stressed at the same time. Sometimes there is a day or two of overlap, but we often stumble our way through with relative ease.
So, the next time you get a cold, it might just be the universe (or at least your body) telling you that it's time to take a little break.
Wait, isn't this supposed to be a gratitude blog? I'm getting to that. As my older brother used to say, "first worst, best last." Sometimes I find it easier to find the silver lining if I get all the "doom and gloom" thoughts out of the way. So, what could be the upswing of a wussy yet ostracizing cold?
Every once in a while I actually take a step back and ask myself just that question. After much deliberation, I figured out that sometimes a cold is my body's way of telling me that I need to relax. I don't mean vegging on the couch or playing games all day. I mean actually resting. When we get sick, be it from a simple cold or from a more serious illness, one of the greatest demands our bodies make on us is for SLEEP. Our bodies actually get a lot of maintenance and repair work done while we sleep, which is why it is so essential for mental and physical health. The more stress we experience, the harder we push ourselves, the more likely we are going to get sick. This isn't just rhetoric, there are actual medical and psychological studies showing a very strong relationship between stress, socialization, and illness. There is even a whole field of psychology--psychoneuroimmunology--dedicated to studying the link between mental health and physiological health.
In my moments of insightful wisdom, I realize that I often get a weak cold when I have more on my proverbial plate that I can intelligently handle at the time. The sickness generates a mindset of "it can wait" and I put off everything for a day or two while I get some apparently much-needed sleep. I do not completely shut down, but I do step back significantly. I pull out my Plan B so that I can feel like I accomplish something during my work day (I teach, so this is usually pretty easy for me to do) and I slip into organizing mode. True, dishes may pile up and the laundry might get pushed off for another day while I am napping. However, once I feel better, once I regain my physical AND mental energy, I can quickly catch up on things with a History Channel or psychological crime drama (Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU are great) marathon in the evenings or on a weekend. I watch a lot of History Channel while doing chores; that's what fills about a quarter of my Tivo. Of course, I would not be able to do this if it weren't for the support of my husband. After 11 years of marriage we have learned a lot about quietly adapting to each other. We are lucky enough that we usually do not get sick or stressed at the same time. Sometimes there is a day or two of overlap, but we often stumble our way through with relative ease.
So, the next time you get a cold, it might just be the universe (or at least your body) telling you that it's time to take a little break.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Feeling Alone
[NOTE: This post is not a cry for attention or a request for a pity party. It is a truly reflective post on the topic of loneliness.]
Every few months I go through a lonely mood. I get the feeling that no one really cares to know what I'm up to or what happens in my life. I start to feel as if I have no friends (that's not hard to do, since the few people I do call "friend" live out of town/out of state in relation to myself) and no one to talk to about anything on my mind. It is during times like these that I have come to appreciate tools such as this blog or an old-fashioned journal. I used to slip into a depressive slump when I realized that my daughter did not care to hear what I had to say. I used to feel self-pity when I thought no one wanted to be around me because their lives were so much more important or fascinating than my minuscule blip of an existence. Thankfully, my perspective has morphed as I continue my journey toward self-actualization (look up Abraham Maslow's theory).
Today I sensed that this is the beginning of another one of my lonely sessions. Yes, at first I was truly upset (and a little peeved) when I felt that no one cared about me. After some reflection, however, I decided to not let it bother me. That's right, I took a page out of Maslow's (and many cognitive theorists') book and chose to react differently. I choose to see this session of loneliness as an opportunity to quietly contemplate things in my daily life. I refuse to see it as a threat to my self-esteem. This is also an opportunity to be more observant of other people's lives. You can see much more when you blend into the background. Plus, as no one really cares what I am doing, I am free to work on surprise/secret projects without having to worry about hiding things. I can hide in plain sight when no one cares to see.
I truly am thankful for this lonely time. As an extreme introvert it gives me much more time to recharge my batteries. I have to talk in front of 80+ students every day as a part of my job. And while it is only for about 2.5 hours each day, that social interaction is quite draining for me. With alone time I can take the opportunity to sift through my thoughts each day and "breathe" without worrying about more social interaction. True, I do still miss human contact during these moments (ALL humans are social creatures and require some amount of social interaction with other humans), but I think this will be a good "vacation" for me to organize my thoughts and get some things done.
I'll just be blending here into the background until someone needs me or decides that they want to pay attention to me again. Until that time, I'll be sorting through my thoughts and trying different perspectives to interpret the world around me. With 7+ billion people on the planet, I'm glad I'm not the one that everyone's scrutinizing; that's just too much anxiety I don't need (ever).
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Squirrel of the Month for November 28, 2012
I know I have been remiss in my squirrel postings. It is not from lack of material, but rather an increasingly filling schedule. So, my apologies for this late entry. I give you the November Squirrel of the Month: Sandy Cheeks.
One of the things I first liked about Sandy was the fact that she was from Texas. I was born and raised in Texas and I sometimes get tired of seeing characters from the more popular states (New York and California are over-represented; there are 50 states, not 2, and many other countries to boot). Sometimes Sandy's Texan, however, is a little too over-the-top. This is actually by design, as her character is meant to represent one of the 7 cardinal (or "deadly") sins: Pride. Sandy is definitely overflowing with pride. She shows kids that it's okay to be proud of your accomplishments and abilities, but she also illustrates the dangers of extreme hubris. When her ego gets too big for her helmet she finds herself in trouble that only the sometimes-humble (humility being the saintly virtue that counters pride) Spongebob can help her out of. Then Sandy shows that she can swallow her pride and graciously accept help when she needs it.
Speaking of smart, Sandy is one of the few characters on Spongebob Squarepants who seems to have a fully-functional brain. As a scientist, inventor, and explorer, she shows kids that anyone can accomplish great feats, regardless of their gender. Of course, sometimes her "genius" leads to a cold calculating response when warmth and caring are needed, but this is thankfully not always the case. She also breaks another female stereotype: weakness. Sandy's karate, coupled with her feats of strength, make her a formidable foe and a great ally to have fighting in your corner. She balances brains with brawn when solving problems, showing that there is never just one way to accomplish goals.
Sandy Cheeks is a strong, intelligent, talented, air-breathing female in a male-dominated water world. She is adaptable and loyal to her friends. Even when she lets her ego get in the way, she still tries to help out with the best of intentions. So, thank you, Sandy Cheeks, for teaching us the ups and downs and having self-confidence (sometimes too much) and for teaching us that we can adapt to just about anything if we put our minds to it.
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| Picture from the Spongebob Wiki page: http://spongebob.wikia.com/wiki/Sandy_Cheeks |
Speaking of smart, Sandy is one of the few characters on Spongebob Squarepants who seems to have a fully-functional brain. As a scientist, inventor, and explorer, she shows kids that anyone can accomplish great feats, regardless of their gender. Of course, sometimes her "genius" leads to a cold calculating response when warmth and caring are needed, but this is thankfully not always the case. She also breaks another female stereotype: weakness. Sandy's karate, coupled with her feats of strength, make her a formidable foe and a great ally to have fighting in your corner. She balances brains with brawn when solving problems, showing that there is never just one way to accomplish goals.
Sandy Cheeks is a strong, intelligent, talented, air-breathing female in a male-dominated water world. She is adaptable and loyal to her friends. Even when she lets her ego get in the way, she still tries to help out with the best of intentions. So, thank you, Sandy Cheeks, for teaching us the ups and downs and having self-confidence (sometimes too much) and for teaching us that we can adapt to just about anything if we put our minds to it.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
When Tech Takes a Vacation
I tend to take my technology for granted. At first I resist new tech because I become comfortable with my way of doing things. The thing is, once I do finally embrace the technology, I become completely reliant upon it to fulfill that function it took over from my arcane methodology. It took me a long time to adapt to a smart phone, now I feel naked, lost and alone if I leave home without it or if the battery dies on me (I carry around a spare battery just in case now). I guess you can say that I have a slow-to-warm up temperament (see my post in my Psych Vocab blog on personality). I don't run away from change, but I tend to be cautious about it and once I embrace it and become comfortable with it, I don't want to change again too soon. So, what happens when the technology I depend on becomes unreliable?
At first, a part of my mind shifts into a post-apocalyptic end-of-the-world type of mentality. "Oh no! How will I check my email?" or, as in the case today, "What will I do with my students if I can't get these copies made?" As I have been striving during my entire young adulthood (all 12 years of it so far) to become more optimistic and calmer, this "nightmarish" thinking does not last too long any more. Instead, I take a breath after my mini panic and think of alternatives. So, the copy machine is "on vacation" and I can't make copies. I guess that means that this assignment will have to wait until tomorrow or I can email the information to my students and have each of them print it out for themselves. When the SMART equipment in my classroom decided to go wonky--could not get the projector to cooperate, thus using PowerPoint for the lecture was a no-go--I eventually turned the class period into a project work day for my students. This was after vainly trying to show them a DVD; the player and the class set-up were not cooperating.
What do I do when my phone dies? I now have a boredom bag to keep me occupied. My boredom bag holds a number of travel craft projects that I can pull out to work on when I am bored (I'm not the kind of person to randomly strike up conversations with people if I have nothing else to do). After all, the main thing I do with my phone is read tweets and check email, sometimes check in to Facebook, when I am waiting for something else to happen. I try not to let technology rule my life. When the tech "goes on vacation" I get a chance to step back and realize how much I've let it encroach upon my time. I can then take the opportunity to make some adjustments and find alternative ways to accomplish my goals and/or to prioritize my goals to reduce or prevent stress.
Yes, technology is fantastic. However, like all things, it is best in moderation and it always helps to have a plan B (or C or D or E, etc.) in your back pocket just in case.
At first, a part of my mind shifts into a post-apocalyptic end-of-the-world type of mentality. "Oh no! How will I check my email?" or, as in the case today, "What will I do with my students if I can't get these copies made?" As I have been striving during my entire young adulthood (all 12 years of it so far) to become more optimistic and calmer, this "nightmarish" thinking does not last too long any more. Instead, I take a breath after my mini panic and think of alternatives. So, the copy machine is "on vacation" and I can't make copies. I guess that means that this assignment will have to wait until tomorrow or I can email the information to my students and have each of them print it out for themselves. When the SMART equipment in my classroom decided to go wonky--could not get the projector to cooperate, thus using PowerPoint for the lecture was a no-go--I eventually turned the class period into a project work day for my students. This was after vainly trying to show them a DVD; the player and the class set-up were not cooperating.
What do I do when my phone dies? I now have a boredom bag to keep me occupied. My boredom bag holds a number of travel craft projects that I can pull out to work on when I am bored (I'm not the kind of person to randomly strike up conversations with people if I have nothing else to do). After all, the main thing I do with my phone is read tweets and check email, sometimes check in to Facebook, when I am waiting for something else to happen. I try not to let technology rule my life. When the tech "goes on vacation" I get a chance to step back and realize how much I've let it encroach upon my time. I can then take the opportunity to make some adjustments and find alternative ways to accomplish my goals and/or to prioritize my goals to reduce or prevent stress.
Yes, technology is fantastic. However, like all things, it is best in moderation and it always helps to have a plan B (or C or D or E, etc.) in your back pocket just in case.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Patient People
I am almost convinced that impatience and selfishness go hand-in-hand. Selfishness is a pet peeve, and occasionally a weakness, of mine. With so many impatient people, I have a great appreciation for those individuals who can slow down or show understanding for others. I am grateful to the patient drivers who realize that a STOP sign is a stimulus to stop, not just roll by. I am grateful for patient drivers who allow pedestrians to cross in front of them without unnecessarily slamming their brakes or honking their horns or gunning their engines as soon as the walker barely clears the car. I am thankful for the patient parents waiting in line with their kids for anything (registering for something, waiting for pick-up or drop-off, making a purchase, etc.) who realize that everyone deserves the same courtesy that they themselves would like to enjoy. I am thankful to the parents who do not believe that somehow their child is more special than anyone else's child. I am grateful to the people who do not feel that they are entitled to extra privileges just because they are who they are, but rather deserve the same courtesy and consideration (and thus also hand it out) as others on this planet. I am especially grateful to the people who don't believe that their time, which is the same amount as every other person's on this earth, is more valuable than any other's just because it is their time.
I see so much impatience and selfishness each and every day that it makes those patient and courteous individuals seem that much more precious. Thank you to all the considerate people out there.
I see so much impatience and selfishness each and every day that it makes those patient and courteous individuals seem that much more precious. Thank you to all the considerate people out there.
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