Tag: the pandemic

Calling Someone A Doomist

The current trend
is to call anyone
who isn’t 100% optimistic
about the future
a ‘doomist.’

The danger to this
is
it shuts down conversation.
It prevents us
from hearing about
not-as-happy situations
and preparing for them.
It stops others
from warning us,
from talking honestly
with us.

And that will cause us
pain
…eventually.

The future isn’t
all sunshine and roses.
Heck, the past wasn’t
happy all the time.

There were
plenty of opportunities
then
and there will be
plenty of opportunities
in the future.

But we won’t be able
to fully take advantage
of these opportunities
unless we know about
and
avoid or minimize
the challenges.

Don’t EVER call
anyone
a doomist.

Tell Them Who Is Calling

Buddies tease me
because,
when I call them
on the phone,
I start with
“Hi (X)! This is (K).”

I do this
because I’m humble enough
not to expect them
to guess who I am
using my voice alone
(if they don’t have
caller ID,
and many lower income people
don’t have it
on their landlines).

I also do this
because it saves other people
the additional mental work
of trying to figure out
who is calling.

People are overloaded
with mental AND physical work
right now.

They’re still dealing with
the fallout of the pandemic.
They’re dealing with
the increasing impacts
of climate change.
They are likely understaffed
and overworked.
They have other worries.

They shouldn’t have to worry
about figuring out
who is calling them.

Extend them some grace.
Tell people
who you are
when you call them.
Don’t make them guess.