"F-ing" 2024

21 days into the year there are already whispers referring to 2024 as “f-ing 2024” and if things stay on its current trajectory it will soon be “F^%$-ing 2024” and then simply “FUCKING 2024”.

Things that used to work have stopped working. Things that used to work are still working but in a different way. It’s raining when it should be snowing or snowing when it should be raining. What used to be real is now fake, and what used to be fake is now real — It is hard to tell what is going on other than the realization something is.

2023, in hindsight has been affectionately referred to as a dumpster fire and foresight has suggested 2024 may be something much more incendiary, but don’t worry, I’m not going to attempt to be a futurist for many reasons, including my crystal ball is cracked. Besides, that’s what social media scrolling is for.

What I want to offer, or at least attempt to, are thoughts on working through challenging times such as “f-ing 2024”.

Consideration Number 1 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Keep your wits about you — my off and on again collaborator iamGPT has suggested I need to be more precise so let me start with a definition.

wit /wit/ (noun) plural noun: wits 1. mental sharpness and inventiveness; keen intelligence. 2. a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor.

What I mean by keeping your wits about you is to stay aware of what’s going on, look at thinks critically and unemotionally, and validate facts and figures before you act. This is not the time to sit on the sidelines as a victim (which is a growing pass time it seems) but offer constructive solutions and be prepared to do the work to bring them to life. And one last point, although crying and laughing are so closely related, the sound of laughter brightens up a room while you are using your wits.

Consideration Number 2 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Look after your health, and again in the spirit of preciseness, this is what I mean. 1) Get enough sleep (probably seven to nine hours a day); sure you can live on five or six hours but over time it is not in your best interest. 2) Be active and don’t get in the habit of burning less calories then you take in. Health is one of those things that you’re healthy until you are not. 3) Stay calm and work on managing stress. A case in point — I just completed a 14 day blood pressure audit and found my pressure bounces around wildly. If I spend time on controlling breathing though, my pressure is around the ideal 120/80 mark. I don’t have a circulatory problem but I have a “calm the fuck down problem”, which is still a problem. 4) Remember what you put into the machine impacts how it will run — try to make sure you eat as well as you can.

Consideration Number 3 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Work on your relationships and networks because everything you will accomplish is the result of teamwork — it really is a full stop sort of thing. Not only will very little get done without a team around you, the importance of human connection can’t be overstated. In the post pandemic years, there is continued reporting that many are more isolated than ever and that simply is not good emotionally or physically. Oh, and see if you can cut your social media consumption by 25% and get outside because social media is not connection. The papers regarding how bad it actually is keeps piling up.

Consideration Number 4 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Over communicate (everything). When it gets fluid (i.e crazy), and there is a working premise that 2024 will be, it’s important to communicate to the best of your ability. Let people know what you are doing, don’t assume your colleague knows that is happening, reduce surprises because people hate surprises — so give people a heads up. I have noticed an unfortunate situation happening in many places which I like to call “Don’t ask; don’t tell”; a breakdown in proactive communication. Why this is happening more and more I can’t say, but I do know it’s nothing but a roadblock for getting things done.

Consideration Number 5 for working through “f-ing 2024”

Historically speaking, difficult times are not something new, and many would suggest there have been some years that will make 2024 look rather non eventful (comparatively speaking). Granted, with over amplification as a result social media and mass media, everything seems overwhelming bad, but if you step back and keep your wits about you, 2024 can be navigated effectively.

One final consideration

Let’s say 2024 will be a year of problems based on the first 21 days. Don’t forget opportunities are inevitably also present (problems and opportunities are like kissing cousins). So remember while you are putting out fires and trying to figure out why what was working isn’t working anymore, there will be new opportunities just waiting for you can take advantage of. What will they be? I don’t know. I already told you I am not much of a futurist. Although I will say, I am an optimist and optimists are always looking for opportunities.

Best to be an optimist!

iamgpe

The iamGPT* Project: Echoes of Resilience (a collaboration)

Navigating the Covid saga — a journey that, in retrospect, feels like something a lifetime ago. Those days when the world collectively pressed the pause button, and we found ourselves navigating uncharted waters.

 Imagine me in my cozy corner, surrounded by stacks of eclectic books, pondering leadership and contemplating the essence of weathering a storm. Little did I know that soon, we'd all be thrust into the ultimate test, facing challenges we never envisioned. The unwelcome arrival of Covid-19 disrupted our lives like an unexpected houseguest and threw our routines into disarray. Suddenly, we were all enrolled in a massive Virology 101 class, becoming armchair experts on virus morphology, transmission modes, and R naught ratings. We practically earned honorary PhDs in pandemic survival.

In December 2019, and possibly earlier, an animal virus jumped to a new host which had no innate immunity — the virus is from a family of viruses called coronaviruses and the new hosts are us. Because it’s a new virus it was called a novel coronavirus but soon after the WHO called the virus SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it caused, Covid 19. This particular virus infects the upper respiratory track, and more dangerously the lungs if it gets a chance, and because of it’s a novel virus there are over eight billion people that can unwittingly conspire to help it spread. We’ve had seven months to learn about this new virus and have found that it spreads easily in crowds (particularly indoors), it’s deadly (particularly to those who have underlying health conditions), people can be infectious even when they don’t show any symptoms, and the data suggests only about 1 % of the population has been infected — 1% is a long way from the herd immunity needed to bring us back to some sort of normality. This herd immunity comes when a majority of the population* either recovers from Covid 19 or develops immunity from a vaccine. And a vaccine for mass distribution is 8 to 12 months away (and I’m optimistic).

Amidst the struggle to adapt to the new normal, the blogosphere emerged as a haven. I found solace in sharing stories about changing motorcycle oil and reflecting on life's journey. In a world that demanded physical distancing, these digital connections became a lifeline.

For me, the narrative of the pandemic also unfolded through the lens of an old man in his 90s who'd weathered the storms of life. His perspective served as a poignant reality check. It wasn't so much a crisis as a surreal situation; draining a person both physically and mentally. The lingering question echoed though. Are we genuinely in a crisis?

“Do you think we are in a crisis?”

The answer came through the lens of a man who was born into the depression, knew what it was like not to have food on the table, survived polio, knew the impact of rationing on the home front, and from someone who had earned his wings as a paratrooper (with a couple of night jumps under his belt) — I think it’s safe to say a unique perspective by today’s standards.

His answer was ultimately, “No”.

Through blogging, the significance of reflection became evident. The mantra evolved into a constant self-inquiry about how we were handling the situation when the going got tough. It was a reminder that while we might all be stuck in this proverbial hole, there could be a friend who'd been there before and knew the way out.

As the man continued to watch people walk by he noticed a friend. “Hey friend”, he shouted, “Can you help me get out of this hole?”

His friend, after hearing his request, jumped into the hole and landed right beside him.

The man looked at his friend and asked, “What did you do that for? Now we are both stuck in this hole!”

His friend looked at him and responded, “Yes we are… but I‘ve been here before, and I know the way out”

Then came the oil change saga on my motorcycle, a messy endeavor that unfolded into a metaphor for life's lessons. It taught me that things never go as planned, exerting more effort than initially anticipated, and, most importantly, the sense of accomplishment that accompanies overcoming obstacles.

I was explaining that “all ‘n all” I thought it went well except when I wasn’t thinking and spilled oil everywhere; to that he said, “Next time put out a drop cloth, and doesn’t the sense of accomplishment feel good”

It did feel good, and to think, I almost quit. The whole experience was a great reminder —

No matter how well you are prepared, it never really goes according to plan. It’s much harder than the classroom or what’s shown in the video.

It usually takes more effort than you originally thought. Figuratively speaking, be prepared to sweat.

Course correction is part of the process — you will find that sometimes you think you’re doing the right thing, when in fact, you are not.

It may very well get messy, and you may want to quit. If you quit though, nothing gets accomplished and nothing of value is learned.

The sense of accomplishment feels good. You also learn important lessons for the next time you want to accomplish something.

Amidst the chaos, there was a resounding call for preparedness. A call to build foundations, manage crises, deal with change, and, above all, show kindness. Pithy quotes became guiding lights, serving as reminders to inhale, laugh, and persistently move forward.

As the months passed, we found ourselves entrenched in a real-time lesson in character. Curiosity, adaptability, honesty, transparency, compassion, kindness, grit, determination, and courage — these virtues transformed from mere words to the indispensable building blocks of our survival.

December arrived, ushering in a reflection on the past eleven months of 2020. Father-daughter escapades during the holidays became cherished memories, a poignant reminder that amidst the chaos, joy and connection persist.

It is now just a matter of time with a simple strategy; vaccinate the population faster than the virus can spread, and in turn reduce the number of cases, reduce the number of deaths and allow us to get back to what we remember as normal. The next three months will be difficult by any standard, but by then the momentum will have shifted in our favour and that light we’ll see, will truly be at the end of this COVID-19 tunnel.

In the meantime —

Work very hard not to get COVID-19 — remember this virus is opportunistic. 

Be Kind — we are all dealing with this pandemic in our own way. 

Be Patient — there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Take advantage of all this “free time” and learn something new — it makes it easier to keep track of what day it is, particularly if assignments are involved.

So, yes, we survived the pandemic.

There is a long game when it comes to a modern pandemic: simply get vaccinated before you get sick. We’re 365 days into this pandemic and we’ve another 365 days to go; with each day that passes, get closer to what we remember as normality (at least we thing we can remember).

With this in mind, this is what I plan to do over the next 365 days to help get me through this crisis.

1.     Work really hard to stay healthy and keep others healthy

2.     Be there for family and friends, and help keep them safe (refer to #1)

3.     Continue to be of value to those I work with

4.     Don’t let all that practical “life stuff” slide just because I think every day seems the same and I just don’t feel like doing it (you know like — taxes, doctor’s appointments, blogs, getting my car licence, better rigor around my investing… stuff like that)

5.     Keep running stairs, keep riding my gravel bike, stay mobile and don’t sit too much, keep eating right, and get lots of fresh air

6.     Stay imaginative and try new things (even if they are small and seemingly insignificant). Keep the brain working and “relatively sharp”

7.     Plan that next trip. You’re definitely gonna need it after this is all over.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish in 365 days — I’m optimistic.

 Two years later, as my new collaborator and I revisit these blogs, it's akin to flipping through a scrapbook of resilience. The challenges we faced, the lessons we learned, and the character we discovered in the process — it's all there, etched into the digital pages.

And truth? Well, that became an elusive concept. In a world bombarded by smart devices, online algorithms, and social media bots, finding the authentic truth felt like embarking on a treasure hunt. The polarization of perceived truths made it increasingly challenging to understand the complete picture. Yet, the quest for truth became imperative — not merely the one fed to us but the one we actively sought.

As we ceremoniously close the chapter on the Covid saga, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of new beginnings. The world has changed, and so have we. The narrative unfolds, shaped by the lessons of the past, the resilience we discovered, and the truths we ardently pursued. And you know what? We're still here, still standing, and still spinning our tales. It's a testament to the strength we unearthed within ourselves and the connections that carried us through the storm. As we move forward, these stories become not just artifacts of survival but beacons guiding us forward.

iamgpe and iamGPT*

*It will emulate the person it is interacting with — I tend to end my blog posts with iamgpe, and in a few responses, ChatGTP ended its response with iamGTP. This admittedly was a little flattering.

A simple story to motivate...

This story was told to me after being told to a friend by a very proud grandson, and it happened a long time ago — with family nepotism and the fuzziness of time not withstanding, it’s a great story. Before I begin, if you do not know what Panettone is, I would describe it as a sweet bread shaped like a dome; it can be found in both the America’s and most of Europe. They say Panettone was first baked in Milan, and if you know any Italians, you know it’s a national treasure.

Back in the day, there was a baker on every corner of every street in Italy, and along with other fine baked goods, they all arguably made the best Panettone in the country — and argue they did. There was one such baker who kept his thoughts to himself and just went about his business making a very fine sweet bread. But no matter how fine his Panettone was, with all the competition and the arguing, it was impossible for him to break into the coveted top ten.

One day, after many nights of discussion around the dinner table, the baker and his wife decided to move the family and the bakery to Brazil — he had heard there was a growing love for Panettone and most likely less arguing; a person can breathe out there, in the wide, open air.**

So they packed everything they had; children, pets, recipes, ovens, baking pans, family heirlooms and whatever else you would need to start up a fine bakery in a strange land. Once everything was packed, and with tickets in hand, they boarded a ship and were off. It was a smooth voyage until it wasn’t, and a huge storm sank the ship; the baker and his family barely survived with only the clothes on their backs. With little other option, they made their way back to Italy to start over.

And start over they did, until again the baker who still kept his thoughts to himself had built up another bakery making a very fine sweet bread. Again, the coveted top ten was hard to break into. And again, they sat around the table and decided to go to Brazil where the love for Panettone was still growing. And again, they boarded the ship with all of their belongings and set sail.

They made it to Brazil this time and the baker set up his bakery and went about making a very fine sweet bread. The family flourished and the bakery is now the second largest manufacturer of Panettone in the world.

After hearing the story, I had many questions regarding timing and logistics and ship sinking details but they were never mentioned in the original telling of the story. I had to take the story at face value — a simple story of perseverance, determination and the will to keep making very fine sweet bread.

And in the end, isn’t that all you really need in a fine motivational story.

iamgpe

PS — thanks for the story Anthony.

** from one of my all time favourite books by Dr Seuss — Oh, The Places You’ll Go!