It seems like all of my stories start out with, 'I have this friend...', and they do, but I have friends who inspire me. This particular post is inspired by my interaction with my friend Zinc Saucier this morning.

'IT'S NOT LOADING!!'

I said, wanting to smash my laptop to pieces. I was rushing to get the first draft of my new book to Zinc. He's a friend who acts like an agent. Bossy AF, demanding AF, but he's reliable, honest, and ALWAYS there. If you have ever tried to export thirty-three pages of images/text, then you know that it is a slow process - especially when you use Gimp2. Twenty-two pages had finally opened when I saw the dreaded words: Program Not Responding

GAHHHH

Of course it is not responding! I have 10 minutes left to get my draft in. Why would it work? Work, damn you, work! Oh, fine. I'll wait until you decide to start doing your job, stupid computer. *slap* "I am going to throw you out the window. I swear it." Then I see a glitter of hope. It's running! Oh no! It's not running. IT'S SHUTTING DOWN!

NOOOOOOOOOOO

I wanted to walk away, to shut the cover of my laptop and walk away. I wanted to give up. It's too early in the morning for drinking, but I wanted to. I also wanted to cry. The frustration had me bested...and then... Five...Four...Three...Two...One...I counted down, reminding myself of the new Five Second Rule I have put to use in my life. Calm. Finally calm. Everything opened and everything worked; twenty-three minutes late, but it worked.

The Lesson

Computers have Jedi Powers and can read minds. If you're stressed, it's going to make you even more stressed. Just like life. The lesson I learned this morning is to breathe, and deeply. Sweat the small stuff, but control it. Don't give in. Don't give up. One daily goal down; nine to go.

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What a morning! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my stuff, it means a lot to me!
x x
Mo

Photo Credit: donated by Zinc Saucier, where he got it, I do not know.
GIFs all courtesy of Giphy