Life is hard, but help is all around us. The trick is to take your learning where you can find it. In my case, as a technology teacher, it‘s from computers. Here are ten lessons I learned from my computer. The first four, I’ve shared before. The last six I’ve experienced first hand over the past year. See which you relate to:
#1: Know when your RAM is full
RAM is Random Access Memory. In the computer world, it controls how much you can work on at any given moment. If you exceed your computer‘s RAM, it won’t be able to remember anything else (computer programs stall or stop). Humans have a mental workspace–like a desktop–that controls how much we keep in our thoughts before it is shuffled off to long- and short-term memory. For people with eidetic memories, it‘s very large. For most of us, size is controlled by:
- how complicated the subject is
- how many numbers there are
- how many specific facts there are
I know my limits and I don‘t feel bad about grabbing a pencil to take notes or asking someone to slow the heck down. You shouldn‘t either. Figure out the limits of your RAM and accept it. Don‘t be afraid to say, My RAM is full! That‘s what computers do.
#2: You Can‘t Go Faster Than Your Processor Speed
Everyone wants a computer with the fastest processor speed. That means we as the owner get more done in less time. The computer seems to understand what pace is best for its mother board and maintains that pace, no matter if we yell, scream, or kick its tires. Why? Because it can only work as fast as its parts allow it to.
This is also true of your personal processing speed. It is what it is. Your ability to think through problems and consider issues is determined by your mental and physical framework. No amount of lusting after those with a photographic memory will change your circumstances. Accept yourself for what you are. Revel in it. Own it. Enjoy your strong points and work around the weak ones.
Here‘s something you may not know. No one is perfect and everyone has weaknesses. Successful people re-form arguments and situations to accommodate their strengths and ignore their weaknesses. You can too. Who cares what your processing speed is if your hard drive is to die for?
#3: Take Shortcuts When You Can
Don‘t you love keyboard shortcuts? Instead of mouse clicking through all those steps to get something done, a quick Ctrl+I italicizes or Ctrl+S saves. This is so much more efficient.
Life is like that. You can do it the long way or the short way: Reinvent the wheel every time you are faced with a problem or learn from experience. Here are examples:
- Learn from mistakes.
- Accept advice from those you trust.
- Don‘t feel you have to go it alone. There are lots of friends and family, and sometimes new friends, who will help you get things right.
- Go with your strengths. They have been honed by use. Your weaknesses, well, you never quite know how they‘ll work out.
You‘re not capitulating if you take the road more traveled.
#4: Be Patient When You‘re Hourglassing
Everyone who has used a computer understands the annoying, time-wasting hourglass (which is now the swirling circle). You‘re trying to perform magic on a deadline and the computer screen pops up with an hourglass that lazily pours sand … for. Ever. You think it‘ll continue until Harvard wins the Super Bowl. You can’t rush it–the computer moves on when it‘s ready, with complete disregard for your frustration.
There‘s a lesson here. Life includes predictable, spontaneous hourglassing. We teach our children patience is a virtue, but we don‘t embrace it as our own. Anger won‘t get rid of the hourglass and stress won‘t make it go faster. Sit down, relax, and smell the roses.
#5: Go offline for a while
We are all getting used to–even addicted to–that online hive mind where other voices with thoughts and opinions are only a click away. Who among us hasn’t wasted hours on Facebook, Twitter, our blogs–chatting with strangers or virtual friends ready to commiserate and offer advice. It’s like having a brilliant best friend who’s always available.
But while your back is turned, the real world is changing. Once in a while, disconnect from your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram–even your blogmates. Re-acquaint yourself with the joys of facial expressions, body language, and that tone of voice that makes the comment, “Yes, I’d be happy to help” sincere or snarky. Engage your brain in a more intimate and viscerally satisfying world.
#6: Accept 404s
In technology, this means something unexpected shut down the website you want to visit. I wouldn’t call them common, but they are ever-present and predictable.
These happen in life too: Houston, we have a problem. That road you were following suddenly became a dead end. We like to believe life will always go as planned, but–like those webpages–it doesn’t. Accept that with equanimity. Devise an alternate path and move on. Revel in your flexibility that circumstances don’t dictate your happiness.
#7: I’m in beta
You’ve probably used beta sites. It is the developer’s way of saying the site isn’t fully vetted, may have problems, but you are welcome to visit while they work through the problems.
The truth is: Everyone lives life in beta. It’s rare we are fully prepared. In fact, we love the wild data points that add variety to our lives. When we experience the same predictable event over and over (and over), it bores us and we force a change. Jobs come with vacations. Family life includes alone time. Humans traipse over the horizon just to see what’s there. Only when something goes wrong do we get the adrenaline rush that comes with problem solving.
Plus, being in beta makes it OK to be imperfect, to fail and try again, to follow our dreams.
#8: Fail Fast
We have a saying in tech: “Fail fast.” The idea is to recognize that something is wrong and declare failure before you’ve wasted too much time. That’s a good life lesson. Know when to cut your losses. Trust your instincts to point you the right direction. ‘Failure’ often makes people throw their hands in the air, call for help, wail about injustice–but it’s none of those. It’s an opportunity to succeed. Nothing feels better than success.
#9: Work at the bit level
Some say, at the pixel level. Pundits call it ‘granular’. What it means is you zoom in on a problem, notice the detail, and fix the errors. Don’t be afraid to do that.
There’s an aphorism: ‘Can’t see the forest for the trees’. The opposite is true, too.
#10: Every once in a while, reboot
When you reboot your computer, you shut everything down and start over. All your programs, apps, and internet connections close down, then open again in the orderly manner dictated by your computer’s start-up routine. Think of it as a clean desk in the morning, where you open select files to work on–before you add the post-its, scribbles, and coffee cup rings that invariably mark your progress.
In life, a ‘reboot’ is called for when you feel like an overstuffed file cabinet rather than a finely tuned machine. When you’ve created chaos out of order despite your best efforts to the contrary. Go on vacation or take a coffee break. You might even do something completely different. Whatever it is, it’s that virtual slap that snaps you back to the real world rather than the maze you’ve become lost in. That’s healthy.
That’s it–ten nuggets of wisdom to be learned from computers. Do you have any you’d like to share?
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her book at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.
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I love the analogies. How appropriate for the new year. I sometimes reboot the wrong information, though. LOL.
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And then there is the stuff I delete–by accident. No undelete to help me.
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Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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I needed every one of these, especially reboot. I’ve been “offline” for a while moving and unpacking. I was scared to jump back into working on the project I left hanging, but it turns out all that downtime gave me some new ideas.
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It sounds like your move is going well. I’m so happy to hear that–big change. I love the sound of your neighbors.
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excellent advice! thank you!
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If you have suggestions, I’m curating for next year’s update!
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Ok…
I’ll write them down…
And thank you for asking…:)
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Love this post, Jacqui. I’m definitely going to need a mental reboot when I finish this second book, perhaps stop writing for a couple of weeks and concentrate on something else like baking or photography. Or juicy reading of someone else’s book!
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I love it when you talk geek, Jennifer! A good reboot with a software upgrade. Just what the muse called for.
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Yes!!!
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Reblogged this on Ace PC Help Services and commented:
Interesting take on simply commuter language use the same myself when proving software or hardware to my clients just set up a site with a fellow blogger and anyone had a problem and reblogged your post on to our PC help site.
Regards Ian
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Thanks for the reblog!
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Great ideas given with humor.
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Thanks for the reblog, Patricia!
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Thanks geek friend! Will save to go over again. I wish I knew how to employ shortcuts … I need a tut on that …
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Yeah, I’m the new geek. We don’t have to be 20 something. I’d be happy to show you shortcuts. All we have to do is meet in a Google Hangout.
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eek! How do I/we do that? But thank you! – yr non-tech, non-geek SA Luddite nerd friend …
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If you can figure it out, it would be quite fun, with you half a world away (me in California and you in South Africa). If we did a Blab, that’s easier to join…
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Pingback: 10 Bits of Wisdom I Learned From a Computer | mythoughtlane
Its like a ready reckoner applicable to all ages. The young must read it!
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Hmm… What’s a ‘ready reckoner’? Sounds like something I should know about.
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Ha ha, ready reckoner is a ‘reckoner’. The word ready is probably an addition that Indians use. Your question actually got me to look into the usage of the two words together !!
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Don’t you love it when something new pops out of nowhere. My husband calls that a ‘bluebird’. Have no idea why!
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Jacqui Murray, superb thinking! Why didnt we think about it ?😳I am going to reblog this.
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I started collecting these and was amazed how often the comparison fit. Love this geeky world.
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This is an excellent post Jacqui and I do enjoy the parallels you draw between our lives and computer problems. The fail-safe of reboot is so often used on my computer – I think I should remember to use it in my own life too! As for going off-line, I’ll be on less in November concentrating on writing and hopefully completing my first draft but I won’t be able to resist a peek at what is going on now and then. 😄
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I know lots of writers going offline in November (for NaNoWriMo) and again in December for the holiday. I’m going to take two weeks off in December and one in November. But–like you–I’ll be checking in. Otherwise, it would be like not seeing good friends.
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Absolutely, I would miss not ‘meeting up’. I hadn’t thought about December but reckon I will need to take a couple of weeks away. We go to my brother’s + family for Xmas and this year as an extra special treat my nephew is getting married!!! Very exciting and posh frock shopping to look forward to. Being organised I already have the gift!
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Though the key shortcuts are there for me to use, it’s easier for me to use the mouse. No, very few are in my position so I do understand how it saves little increments of time. Number 8 is a wonderful attitude. I think I’ve always had it so have been using since before the PC came out. To try to prove you didn’t fail when you know quite well that you did is pure ludicrousness. I turn off my PC every night. When I boot it up in the morning, any updates for the computer that needed the reboot are automatically completed. I have that ‘clean desk’ every morning. 😀
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Fail fast is a tad foreign to my natural self. I usually go down kicking and screaming.
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As difficult as it may be to accept yourself as being imperfect, Getting it done and over with will give you freedom to be perfect the next time. Yes, so hard to do but so efficient.
I must say though, your quality is found in most good teachers. 🙂
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I feel like I’m most needing to apply #2, #7 and #10 right now. A fun post, and it’s pretty amazing how much wisdom there is in each of these 🙂
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True, innit. My daughter works in tech stuff and peppers her conversation with just this sort of commentary. Amazing.
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Save and keep back-ups of everything. I think I do this in real life as well 😀
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Yes, I’m learning the importance of this the hard way. Dianne, I wish I had began applying this wisdom a couple of months ago 🙂
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It sounds like there’s a story here… Do tell!
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Thanks Jacqui,
There is no, one story in particular. But with three kiddo’s, a fourth on the way, and a very busy life, I feel like I’m always looking for something that has been misplaced. Our biggest fiasco was loosing two sets of car key for nearly a week. In this case, we needed a back-up of our back-up.
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Hehe. There are now GPS tags you can stick on all sorts of stuff. I’m considering that for my car keys.
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That is a good habit, Another one for next year’s list. Thanks, Dianne.
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There is a lot of techie stuff I will need to read earlier in a day. Almost time to go to bed, so I only was able to retain some of this. Very valuable suggestions and lots of good information, thank you and also, Diane for re-blogging this! 🙂 🙂
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A touch of humor helps the life-advice go down easier. Just like a spoon full of honey!
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Thanks for the ‘puter pep talk. This is a great post. 😀
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‘Puter pep talk–that’s good, Tess.
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Ha ha ha. 🙂 ❤
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One of the best articles I’ve read. Life Through blogging 101.
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I am full of good advice, aren’t I! Ah yes, just ask me…
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Yes you are and I often have. So a big thank you, Jacqui.
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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I’m visiting from D Wallace Peach and I love this list. I went back over it again trying to identify the one I liked the most … and I couldn’t do it. Each one resonated with me as truth!
I couldn’t help but notice that you seemed to shy away from the obvious – getting a virus 😉
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Ha–I hadn’t even thought of that one. Duh! I’m adding it to next year’s list. Thanks, Joanne. I’m going over to your blog to see if you’re of the geek mind as I am!
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hahaha – thanks Jacqui. I don’t think I’m cool enough to qualify as a geek and I’m certainly not knowledgeable enough 😉
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It’s funny how embedded tech is becoming in our lives. Non-geeky people use it and adapt to it much more than they realize–or want to I dare say. Me, I worry what happens if they all shut down at once. Will anything work anymore?
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Creative, ingenious, inspiring, informative and enriching. What else? Hmm, so many words, too little space…all i know is that i enjoyed reading this article. Love this.
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You make me impressed with myself! What a wonderful list of qualities. Thanks, Joel.
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You’re welcome Jacqui.
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Reblogged this on Myths of the Mirror and commented:
Learn about life from your laptop? Really? Well, yes! A great post from Jacqui over at Worddreams. Made me smile.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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This is so great, Jacqui. What a list! I love how everything is macrocosm and microcosm with lessons everywhere we look…even in the functioning of our technology.
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For those of us who live on our computer, we darn well better get our lessons there, or we’d be hopeless. Thanks for your kind words, D!
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You’re welcome. The laughs don’t hurt either 🙂
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What a wonderful list. I love how you related computer issues to real life. I particularly like #5 and #10, because without these, we risk becoming disconnected from reality and missing out on real, face-to-face life around us.
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It is a danger, especially the more kids turn to texting.
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And their parents too. Sometimes they’re even worse!
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Here’s a great YT about texting I show my students. It’s really quick and makes its point:
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#10 was one of my favorite too. I’m ready for a reboot–a weekend without getting out of bed perhaps. It’s not likely with a 15 month kiddo at home, but it is a very happy thought 🙂
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Yes, probably not too likely with a 15-month-old! But think of all those sweet hugs and cuddles. That helps make up for it. 🙂
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Ah, I remember those days. Don’t miss them, but wouldn’t trade them for anything.
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I guess my computer can teach me a thing or two about real life. This post is fabulous Jacqui 🙂
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Hehe. Those pesky mechanical behemoths. Yeah, even they have a trick or two that helps me.
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Updates, updates, updates. Not just the OS, but any installed software. Also learn how to optimize!
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Oooh, those will be great for next year’s update. Thanks, Andrew.
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Great stuff–every nugget.
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Ah, yes. What a world, innit?
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This is great stuff, Jacqui! Thanks so much.
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I got a few from my geeky daughter. She’s worse than I am!
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I know who to call now! 🙂
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That’s a great list. One thing I learned from being a software engineer is to “garbage collect” once in awhile. GC is a process where we look for things that are no longer being used, variables, data structures, etc, and delete them from RAM to free up space so we can do more with the same memory.
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I update this about once a year. I will add this to my next iteration. Any others?
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1. Leave comments in the code. Then when you go back to read it, you’ll know what you were doing.
2. Test the backups – nothing worse than finding out your backup disk is corrupted and you’ve really lost all your files. We just found this problem with our earthquake emergency supplies. Seems some mice found a whole and built a nest in there. nasty.
3. Have a roll back plan. If you’re upgrading the software and things start to go wrong you need to be able to get back to the last known working version.
4. Work arounds work. If you’ve got a problem you can’t fix, work around it until you can.
Just some of the others that come to mind. But you’ve got a very good list up there.
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they’re all great. I’m a big fan of work-arounds. I teach it as a problem-solving skill to students. Nothing works all the time, does it?
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This is absolutely excellent, Jacqui.
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My geek is showing!
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Brilliant collection. Life lessons as good as they come. And I am guessing the use of “bits of wisdom” is not accidental!
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Ha! I was wondering if anyone would catch that. Good on you!
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great, informative and detailed!
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Thanks, my friend.
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