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 be kind and supportive to everyone you interact with.
I don’t interact with a lot of people on a regular basis, living on a ranch, and staying at home most of the time. I do say hi, smile, and ask how people are doing when they visit, which is something I hope you all do when someone comes to your residence.
For me, it’s often at the gym or grocer that I run into people. I try to smile and greet them as well. Recently, however, I was camping, and I continued that. As I walked to the restroom from our site, I passed someone in the next site, smiled, waved, and said hi. Then I went further and ran into a family with small children camping. This was a mother and grandmother with younger children.
I greeted them, said hi, and asked how they were enjoyed their time. They were packing up and said it was fun, but they then mentioned they weren’t sure how to fold their tent and could I help. I said sure, but let me go to the restroom first.
I came back, chatted with them about my kids in scouts and how we fold up tents to get them back into the small carrying bags. I helped them get things packed up and ready to leave. They were nice, and it was a nice few minutes for me to be of service to others, meet some new people, and get some smiles.
Be kind and supportive. It’s not that hard, and it makes a big difference in someone else’s, and your, life.