Ramblings after a difficult year
Don Smolenski, Contributing Editor | TLT Machinery February 2021
Life lessons learned from an unpredictable 2020.
Life is surprisingly fragile and unpredictable. Live every day like it could be your last.
Almost everyone would agree that 2020 was a terrible year. The pandemic was unlike anything ever experienced, with no country spared massive suffering and death. But there is hope. Vaccinations should be underway by the time you are reading this. We will eventually come to a new “normal.”
Working from home might now be the norm, recognizing that those working in hospitals, labs, plants, construction, etc., must be on site. The pros of working at home include a very short commute compared to sitting in freeway traffic. The lighter traffic also benefits those who still have to commute. Most of our pets are overjoyed to have us home most of the time (but children and spouses maybe or maybe not so much!). Meetings will continue to be held most often by WebEx, Zoom or other such video conferencing platforms. An upside of attending the STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition, A Virtual Event, in May, as well as Local Section meetings held virtually is that the avoidance of travel and hotel costs should allow for greater participation. A downside is that networking, a major benefit of attending conferences, will be more challenging in a virtual environment. Casual hallway conversations at such meetings are often as valuable as the presentations.
What are the lessons in all of this?
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Have respect for others. Just because someone holds a different opinion on an issue doesn’t mean that they are stupid, crazy or dangerous.
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Use our scientific training, and deal only in facts supported by available, credible data.
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It’s best to take a “community view” of things. Hoarding things so that you have a six-month supply while your neighbors have none is incredibly selfish. (I am very much ashamed to admit that I got caught up in the hoarding frenzy and came home with eight cases of beer.)
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Life is surprisingly fragile and unpredictable. Live every day like it could be your last. Check in with your relatives and good friends that you might have neglected. Next month might not be soon enough. Catch up over coffee or lunch—as soon as it is safe to do so. Call your siblings; remember that they undoubtedly know some embarrassing stories about you, so it’s smart to stay on their good side.
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Many kids don’t really understand what a tribologist is or does. It is good to try to provoke some scientific curiosity in them.
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There is such a thing as too many dad jokes.
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Spoil your grandkids shamelessly! It’s revenge for the gray hairs your kids caused you. Buy them a drum set or a pony.
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Mentor a student. Many young people have no clue what a chemist, engineer, etc., does, and you might just get them hooked. Alternatively, they might run away screaming, but it’s better for them to find that out sooner than their fourth year of college.
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Respect and engage people of all walks of life. You might learn a lot from the guy stocking the shelves at your local grocery store if you take a minute to say hello.
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People are more important than work—no matter what!
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Keep a sense of humor. It might help you keep your sanity. Make time to play, laugh and relax.
Let’s hope your 2021 is already better. Be well!
Don Smolenski is president of his own consultancy, Strategic Management of Oil, LLC, in St. Clair Shores, Mich. You can reach him at donald.smolenski@gmail.com.