The Dallas County Shelter in Place order was extended to the end of the month. When it was first reported, it was reported wrong on some media outlets here in Dallas and it was thought that the extension went to May 20th. 47 more days (when I heard of it) vs 27 more days seemed like an eternity. Maybe because it was close to 50 and your brain just naturally rounds to that number when near it. But I do recall being quite relieved to find out it was only until the end of April. Only.
For most of us, we have now adjusted everything about our world and our previous habits. We have realized helpful and interesting things. We note them about ourselves, and about those that we know the most.
Some of us have realized how much of our budget goes to eating out. Some of us have realized how much we shop... popping into stores on our way to and from work. I have never been much of a "shopper" in the truest sense of that word. I never go to a store, just to "see" what new things they have. Obviously, I am not a fashionista, so I also never go to look at "this season in fashion". When I go to a store, I have a purpose. Something that I need (or want), and I do not often get sidetracked to purchase other things.
My mom on the other hand - she loves to shop. I have never known another human being that can spend so many hours just looking, and never spending a dime. She loves to go look. When we were at home, I often kept her company on these outings. It was good mom time. It always is. My dad, I am pretty sure he welcomed having a break.
He is the expert husband of a shopper. He takes a book, likely one he has already read 100 times (that way he does not really have to pay attention to it, and he can talk to anyone who might welcome conversation). He finds a bench or chair or corner, plops himself into it and waits. "Ok Lois Gaye", he can be heard to say,"I will be right here when you are done", and he is. He patiently waits no matter how long it is.
My dad, he loves people. He and I are alike in that regard. He likes to talk and visit and find out how they are doing. I used to think it was from his years of being in the ministry, because it was part of his job. But I think at some point, it became part of him. He can, and will, talk to absolutely anyone. And the phone is just NOT the same. I think right now, he gets to go out to pick up restaurant food. It likely takes much longer than it would if my mom did it as he has a chance to visit with whoever else is there. Hopefully he gets back to his church visits and barbershop visits in their little town soon!
If you have friends in any type of business, you have probably heard them talking about ZOOM, or WEBEX, or HANGOUTS, or GOTOMEETINGS, or something else... all technology that allows us to communicate with each other, not just with AUDIO, but there is also a visual component as well as an ability to share whatever you are looking at on your computer. This is a business essential.
So for those of you with these technology, do you use your own camera? Do you let other people in the meeting see you, or do you shut your camera off? I would say that easily 90% of the people I meet with shut their cameras off. I sometimes have mine on and sometimes have mine off. It depends on the situation for me.
If I have an ask for the group - I have mine on. It is ALOT harder to tell me no when you can see me, as your brain I think makes it more like a person to person conversation, and I can see you too. If I have been asked to the meeting, but I am there as a courtesy, to answer a question should it arise, but it is not really my meeting, I shut it off. That way I can do other things. Clean, eat, cook, macrame, make beaded bracelets (yeah I do not do those last two but just seeing if you are awake yet) - whatever it is I feel like doing. If I am trying to explain something complicated to a group, or training a group or an individual, I turn mine on, and ASK them to please turn theirs on. I think it is a lot easier for most trainers to know if they are being effective or not if they can see you and the look on your face. If you are in a training - volunteer to have yours on - it will cause you to pay more attention (and not make your own flower pot holder) and help your trainer out as well.
I like that people are using this technology socially. I think my family all SKYPEs so I may set up that on my android so I can see their faces as well.
Off to start my work day - I hope this Tuesday is a great one for all of you.
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