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 notice when you feel judgmental and be kind instead.
The pandemic has been hard on all of us, in various ways. However, the one thing I’ve learned is that my view isn’t like other people’s views. We don’t live in the world the same way, and we don’t experience things the same.
I was out and about not too long ago, and in the place I was visiting, they required masks to be worn. That’s a bit of a change from most of my life, as a lot of Colorado allows you to forego a mask if you’re vaccinated. I had to walk back to my car, find a mask, and then go inside.
Easy to be take things the wrong way, but I just went along with the flow. I hate masks, but it’s not that hard to wear one.
In this case, while talking with one of the employees, or maybe owner, he noted that he’d gone through cancer treatment not too long ago and was still worried about his recovery. A valid reason, and perhaps a good one to ask others to wear masks. Not even because of COVID, but because any infection could be problematic.
I could have judged this person and dismissed their concerns, but it was easier to wish them well and comply with the request to wear a mask.