Yesterday did not go as planned. Not even close. I set out on a routine day, with a list of tasks, a schedule, and my usual resolve. Then everything went awry.
I cannot discuss the details – but let’s just say that my next days – or more – will be filled with the irritation of plenty of paperwork, phone calls, and visits around my fair city to attempt to straighten something out which has nothing to do with me. Except, that it has everything to do with me, along with millions of others who are victims of an internet security breech in some form or fashion.
And this, utterly out of my control – and not the result of ignorance about data security and site verification.
Containing Digital Damage
Fortunately, I caught it early. I’m hoping to contain the damage. But I will end up losing several days (and a great deal of sleep) over this situation, and at the worst possible time – while under an increasingly tight deadline – again – for my son.
Oddly, I’m not feeling sorry for myself at all. If anything, I’m angry. And mobilized. And taking care of business. Isn’t that our job – as adults? And as parents?
I think about how lucky I was that I stumbled onto the facts that I did, when I did. But what else is out there that I don’t know about? Where are our vulnerabilities – sharing so much on the web, and unaware of the ultimate destinations?
The worst (I hope) will be averted, and while I have much to do (details, details, and running around), it’s a very small amount compared to what it could have been. It was definitely a close call.
21st Century Life: Expect the Unexpected
Are you grateful when you hit rocky waters, but recognize how much worse it could have been?
I learned years ago to expect the unexpected, and to reduce risk where I could. But some things are beyond our control – and fail safe mechanisms we put in place are, well… not fail safe. We can hedge our bets (careful with passwords and so on, when it comes to internet transactions). In other areas like our health we can follow recommendations (eating well and exercising). And in life in general, we tend to make better decisions when we listen to our internal GPS – the gut check that steers us in the best direction.
But guarantees?
No such thing.
Close Call? Be Prepared
Most of us who have hit our thirties – or certainly our forties – have been through a variety of close calls – a fall, a car wreck, a health situation – or even – not walking down the aisle when that inner voice said “don’t do it.”
Maybe we’ve survived something more massive, more disastrous.
Does a close call come with repercussions of its own?
You bet. That sleeplessness I mentioned. Our sense of security, compromised. Our beliefs (misconceptions?) we might have had about our world – our safety – and the oh-so-popular “that won’t ever happen to me.”
We are painfully aware of our vulnerability in a networked, digital world – when despite all our best efforts, a security breech results in damage we’re left to clean up. We are even more aware of our fragility when we encounter a close call that threatens our health, our livelihoods, our homes, our loved ones.
And we cannot prepare for everything, though it’s difficult to accept.
Life Lessons, Life Skills
Hopefully, a close call makes us more vigilant. Certainly, picking up the pieces afterward – however annoying – makes us more resilient. And yes, to some degree, more cynical. Or should we say – pragmatic?
These are also the times that we have opportunities to teach our kids.
“You see why I’m so careful about X?” Words I spoke to my son yesterday. Words that, no doubt, I will speak again.
These are the times we are grateful for what we have, for what goes well, for the essentials. And if my writing is scanty and scattered this week, my topics not well fleshed out – this is, in part, the reason for that. “Real life” is pulling on all cylinders. But I’m considering myself fortunate, after a particularly close call.
- Any close calls for you lately?
- Do you use them as teachable moments?
- Do they deepen your appreciation for what goes right?
- Your health, your home, your job, your family, your friends?
It’s amazing how fast life can throw a stick in your spokes! Glad to hear you caught on early. Sorry for the inconvenience that was caused to you.
I am so sorry about what sounds like a frustrating and perhaps also scary experience. It takes such maturity to roll with it as you seem to do here – I am still driven insane by things that are out of my control, and it is such a waste of my energy.
As usual, you are an inspiration.
xoxo
Life is full of close calls. Hopefully we learn from them. For me, those I’ve experienced have resulted in a greater appreciation for what I have and what is right and safe, as well as a recognition of how quickly everything can change.
Sounds like a lot of twitchy and highly unpleasant adrenaline (and I can all too well relate, all too often). Yesterday http://momalom.com/ was touching on this in a synchronistic note as well.
Sending calm good wishes in the midst of whatever seems to be oscillating between stark chaos, frank terror, fear-driven cruelty and potentially illuminating flux. Namaste Wolf
Well here I am, just after that nice endorsement. It does sound like the two of us had some psychic connection yesterday. I hope all is on the mend and that you are able to continue to keep positive. Thinking of you and sending good vibes your way.
Still at it… but I must say, I’ve had some of the nicest, most patient, most customer service-oriented people helping me out today. All professional, all good-natured. That goes far in my book. (So positive vibes must help, right?) Hoping your day is going well, too, Jen!
And who doesn’t love another good ‘teachable moment’ for their kids? 🙂
Wow, Jen. We were both in the same zone today! Different reasons (perhaps), but singing the same tune. (You wrote a lovely post, by the way.) EVERYBODY – go read Jen’s post! It’s beautiful! http://momalom.com
I hate being out of control. It scares me, frustrates me, and drives me crazy. You’d think I would learn that we’re never in control, at least not completely, but I continue to cause myself anxiety and stress over it.
I think vigilance is the only thing that keeps me in check. I do everything I can possibly do to be prepared and ready for the unexpected, for those variables I know will pop up. If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that we can’t consistently count on anything, right?? (And I hope you get everything sorted out tout de suite!)
I am NOT good at rolling with the punches. Ask my husband, it drives him bananas. I tend to inflate issues too, because I can’t stand anything that messes with a calm orderly life. Perhaps I should not have become a mother. But if being a mother has taught me anything it’s perspective, perspective that life is not a plan, and part of being human is picking ourselves up again.
I hope you are well and truly hope you managed to nip whatever it is in the bud.
xo
Still nipping. . . 🙂 But making progress! As for rolling with the punches, we definitely get better at it over time.
I’ve gotten better with going with the flow, but I do admit complaining a little too much when things don’t go according to plan. I am a planner and preparer, the lack of control sometimes bothers me.
Hope you are having a better day BLW!
Hope the situation is resolving, BLW. Even if it was a close call, the stress of untangling what did happen is no easy ride. Three cheers for good customer service, though! It really does make all the difference when you’re feeling angry and frustrated and hamstrung.