Technical difficulties

I showed up to work on Monday, very excited for my team to make a big push to finish up a lot of our collections. And then, Monday actually happened. 

Turns out, there are some ongoing technical difficulties, and all the systems we need to do our work are down. And have been all week, and may be into next week. 

Ordinarily, this would be no biggie. My last job, there was a day when the internet went down for several hours. Me? I just kept on working with my paper stuff. No web required. For a lot of it, no computer required.

But not so much in my current institution, which has made this week a bit of a challenge. Not because I don't have plenty to work on. The real challenge has been finding work for 2 interns and 2 FTEs under me to work on. 

Most of us agree that, under the circumstances, it really doesn't make a ton of sense for us to be going to work at all. Couldn't at least some of us just have an unexpected paid vacation? Honestly, after the pandemic, we could all use a bit of a break, and we'd come back in a better state of mind, which long-term, would benefit everyone. 

However, I do understand the difficulties of paying employees to do nothing. Really, I do. At best, one or two days might be okay, but after that, I would start to feel a little...well, I'd start to feel a bit guilty. And honestly, the situation feels vaguely familiar--the pandemic started out this way too (although we had a bit of lead time to strategize. And access to the tools). Encouragingly, that is a good indication that we'll figure out how to navigate this time. And it will be much shorter than the pandemic, at least. 

Anyway. It does make work a weird and kind of dull experience. I think I'll try to enjoy it while it lasts.

the "right" side of history

I absolutely 1 million percent detest the phrase "the right side of history". While I'm not a historian, I do work in a very history heavy field, and I can tell you, that phrase is just absurd, for two major reasons:

1) right side of whose history? Isn't there some saying that history is written by the winner? So, are we saying the right side of the winner's history? What about the "loser's" history? Or women, or children, or minorities (which has been all of us at one point in the millions of years of human existence)? WHOSE HISTORY?!?!?!

2) History isn't one solid, set in stone thing. History is a kaleidoscope, that is constantly shifting as new perspectives are added. Those perspectives are both contemporary perspectives to the historical event, as new records are discovered, but also modern perspectives as we become more removed from the event. How can you have a right side of something when its sides are constantly shifting and growing and shrinking? Look, Hitler thought he was on the right side of history. Slaveowners convinced themselves they were on the right side of history. For centuries, Columbus was the hero. The historical events (sans interpretation of them) haven't changed. We have. How can you be on the right side when that's a moving target?

3) How in the heck can you know how history will judge you? (Again, Hitler. Columbus. Etc.) You are in the present. You have no idea what the right side of history is. Because you aren't history yet!

I propose we just be on the right side of right. Because there really is right and wrong. And some things are just wrong. So why don't we just say, "Be on the right side of right"? Why are we hemming and hawing and saying, "Be on the right side of history"?* Are we scared of saying that there is right and wrong? And yeah, it gets messy. Sometimes, right and wrong are very contextual. And yes. In 200 years, people may judge us. But that's not my problem. My problem is here and now, and there is right and there is wrong. And I think generally, we know which is which and I think they generally don't change as much as we think they do. Hating, greed, murder--those things aren't right. Being unfaithful, lying, cheating--also not right.** (Whereas, I have no clue what the right side of history will be in a hundred years). Being kind, treating all people with respect, helping others--always right. 

So, let's just be on the right side of right, and stop worrying about history. History will take care of itself, but there's a present that needs us to show up.

*Let's not give people a greater incentive to try to make the history books. Por favor!

**Just because society accepts something, doesn't make it right. Important to note that. And you don't have to dig into the past to see how that is true. 

Once upon a time

Once upon a time, it seems like I had time. At least more time. Time to get things done after work, time on the weekends. Time for leisure and time for the daily routine. 

It seems like that was a thing, but I don't know when it would have been. I think the main difference is that at one point, I might have been more organized with my time. Never super organized, mind. Just more organized. Even then, I'm not entirely sure that was the case. 

Some of it is probably just being more and more exhausted. Most days, I feel pretty drained after a day of work. It seems like more and more of us are feeling that way, if my very unprofessional and unorganized survey at work is any indicator. But that may be a misremembrance, too.

Even if it wasn't a reality, I sure miss having more time. I miss life not being so busy. I miss that wonderful once upon a time. 

Stress safe

Last week, I was visiting my nieces and nephews. My 6-year-old nephew had stacked a huge pile of pillows into a fort-like structure) in a corner of his bed. Then he threw out a string of numbers. 

Turns out, the numbers were the key code to his stress safe (aka the pillow fort), which is exactly what it sounds like. He and his sister make them and store all their stress inside. And quite frankly, I want one. Let's make this happen!