Some days are a really good test of how well I live the adage that drives me

‘you have power over the attitude you bring to every situation’

Sometimes it’s just tempting to have a hissy fit and sulk.

As you know … my dear and devoted reader … my big laptop is in a coma and I’ve been trying to sort out the photo editing software on my small laptop Diva.

I want to post photos here and I haven’t been able to for a few weeks.

Sooooooooooooo ….over about 6 hours today I wandered lost and lonely on the web – and mainly in the Asus users forum (sounds like a place for IT junkies …and thank god for them or I’d have lost the will to live).

I was trying to sort the problem and came at it from numerous angles – downloaded software – nada – wrote text in the main software - nada (but very cool) – left messages on forums – nada – tried online photo resizing software – nada.

Frustrated? Oh yeh.

Feeling a little IT challenged? Oh yeh.

Wondering what the hell I was doing thinking I could build SKIL2 when I couldn’t even sort a photo editing problem?

Sing after me – OH YEH.

So – I did what everyone should do when they have reached their limits and feel like the wheels are turning in the mud – I gave up.

Beating head against brick wall doesn’t solve the problem.

I decided to shift into another mode away from my head – and into my body.

Went outside and found young James and we moved 2 wooden pallettes to the Sunny Funny Garden.

We’ll use them as art tables and seats and places to loll.

I chatted with James (nearly 10 and a wonderful young man) about how his intelligence and learning preference looked like it was kinesthetic….

……learning and being by doing (really good builders, artists, boat makers, dancers, crafts people, carpenters, sports people have strong kinesthetic intelligence).

I asked him if he liked being still and how school work went for him. He said fine but he loved just doing things.

He is such an able person and I rely on him in the Sunny Funny Garden.

I love all the different ways that each of the children are themselves – and I relish the thought that I will live here for years and get to see them grown.

Anyway – I was telling James about the frustration of the computer and my persistence and then need for a break.

And – I decided to go back to it after an hours break.

He said ‘Liz, take some more time away from it’.

I said ‘The problem will still be there whether I go back now or wait longer. I feel like I will solve it now’.

He said ‘I bet you’ll walk back in and you’ll do something and it’ll all be worked out.’

I smiled and replied ‘ Well you know how I feel about good wishing … so what you say will come true. And I like that attitude.’

James is a ‘can do’ kind of young man.

I went inside and tried a few more things and I think something I’d downloaded and written code for – started to work!!

It was an editing programme called Digikam – and it’s a little beauty.

I’ve now resized the Paris photos and will post them over the next few days.

Interesting learning from today?

  • persistence in the face of a problem is important – and – know when to take a break
  • believe that you’ll find a solution (or three) – it just might take some time
  • let yourself feel frustrated and lost - it can act as a motivator
  • don’t let any of the emotions own you – revelling is fine – wallowing is boring
  • change course and move from the predominant style (me using my brain) to another style (physical – dancing and moving) to free up and release the frustrated energy that can build up
  • talk to a 9 year old boy – particularly if he’s James – he’ll help put things in perspective

So – if someone asked me

‘How was your day Honey?’

I could have answered

‘wait til I tell you what a frustratiing and futile day it’s been … nothing went right … just like my whole life … blah blah blah’

Or

‘ It has been frustrating and I lost it there for a while … but that’s not like me … I find solutions … I did after a while … and I spent time with James and I got to chat with Noeleen across the road … and Gabriel … and Phillip …and got an email from Amy who was in Paris and she would love to be my Developer/Mentor for SKIL2 … and I had some cake…blah blah blah’

Same situation … different perspective… my choice.

And … i’m soooooo going dancing tomorrow night.

Feel like I’ve been a little too lost in my head and need to not think for a while.

There will be photos – be afraid ….

Hope your day has been interesting.

Liz

p.s

Ahhhh – how the universe laughs in our face as we think we have things sorted.

Went blithely to upload some of the Paris photos I had resized on Diva (linux OS, digikam addition to the Open Office Photo Manager).

WordPress image uploader say it won’t accept the photos as it doesn’t fit their security profile.

So – it has a problem with Linux.

Hmmmm – I now see myself spending the next few hours wandering the WordPress (this blog hoster) forum.

There’s a wonderful concept called Wicked Problems that beautifully encapsulates this situation … you diagnose 1 problem and find ways to analyse and ’solve’ it … only to find another one arises …and another one ...

Fascinating.

I hope to post photos tomorrow.

L