Verb, Military Slang: To consciously accept or appreciate something that is extremely unpleasant but unavoidable for forward progress
So, not to pollute the COVID-19 discussion thread or the threads about baking, alternatives to gigs/rehearsals using internet technology, etc., I'd like to start a thread discussion some of the "better" transitions we've needed to make in our lives.
First off, I want to say that I completely recognize that not everyone will have "better" things happening to them in these times, what with layoffs, covidiots, elevated health concerns, sickness or outright deaths of friends and loved ones. I figure we have those subjects covered elsewhere.
I had the first hand experience of "embracing the suck" during a six month deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. I like to think that adapting to that environment with the "embrace the suck" mindset has help me adapt to these new COVID-driven realities a lot better than I might have otherwise.
So, what have YOU done to embrace the suck?
I'll start:
1. I'm loving working from home. I'm lucky to have the type of job and technology to do so. I am loving not having to commute anymore. I'm going to be grumpy when these restrictions eventually get lifted and have to go back to the office. I really don't mind being confined to my property 23 hours a day most days of the week. Afghanistan was way worse.
2. I'm appreciating not running around doing "errands" on evenings and weekends. My household has all become really thoughtful about how and where we buy our necessities. Our consumerism has ramped down a bit. Order online and curbside pickup? I'm in! I hope that remains after restrictions are lifted. in Afghanistan, we only had the chow hall and the PX - oh, and Cigar International deliveries - to worry about!
3. I had some critical health issues before all of this started (not COVID related) and I've had to adapt my diet, exercise regime, etc to help recover. Limited extracurricular activities has allowed me to better focus on a healthier diet, proper sleep regime and purposeful exercise....all for the better. Sorta the same with Afghanistan - aside from work, there wasn't much more to focus on. Cigar consumption aside.
4. I'm actually in more frequent contact with friends and relatives (albeit virtual instead of IRL). Focusing again on what matters most. Afghanistan was not different. Also spending more time with my immediate family and whatever frictions existed before seem to have dissipated for the most part. We're all a lot calmer.
How about you?
So, not to pollute the COVID-19 discussion thread or the threads about baking, alternatives to gigs/rehearsals using internet technology, etc., I'd like to start a thread discussion some of the "better" transitions we've needed to make in our lives.
First off, I want to say that I completely recognize that not everyone will have "better" things happening to them in these times, what with layoffs, covidiots, elevated health concerns, sickness or outright deaths of friends and loved ones. I figure we have those subjects covered elsewhere.
I had the first hand experience of "embracing the suck" during a six month deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. I like to think that adapting to that environment with the "embrace the suck" mindset has help me adapt to these new COVID-driven realities a lot better than I might have otherwise.
So, what have YOU done to embrace the suck?
I'll start:
1. I'm loving working from home. I'm lucky to have the type of job and technology to do so. I am loving not having to commute anymore. I'm going to be grumpy when these restrictions eventually get lifted and have to go back to the office. I really don't mind being confined to my property 23 hours a day most days of the week. Afghanistan was way worse.
2. I'm appreciating not running around doing "errands" on evenings and weekends. My household has all become really thoughtful about how and where we buy our necessities. Our consumerism has ramped down a bit. Order online and curbside pickup? I'm in! I hope that remains after restrictions are lifted. in Afghanistan, we only had the chow hall and the PX - oh, and Cigar International deliveries - to worry about!
3. I had some critical health issues before all of this started (not COVID related) and I've had to adapt my diet, exercise regime, etc to help recover. Limited extracurricular activities has allowed me to better focus on a healthier diet, proper sleep regime and purposeful exercise....all for the better. Sorta the same with Afghanistan - aside from work, there wasn't much more to focus on. Cigar consumption aside.
4. I'm actually in more frequent contact with friends and relatives (albeit virtual instead of IRL). Focusing again on what matters most. Afghanistan was not different. Also spending more time with my immediate family and whatever frictions existed before seem to have dissipated for the most part. We're all a lot calmer.
How about you?
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