Emotional Inteligence

I vaguely remember a time when I used to get exited about new games, the latest Android phone or some cool gadget or some accessible, open source technology, but I think those days are now, unfortunately in the past.

Since I've been forcefullly made unemployed through redundancy, I've had more time to reflect on a lot of things. One of which is the innability or reluctance to get excited about something.

Why? Because work opportunities are not working out and life keeps thowing curve-balls causing too much dissapointment to get emotionally invested.

That means that I'm falling back to logic and reason for most things in life, trying to expect the worst, but hope for the best, which while it may make me less humanised in a society which is meant to embrace happiness and joy and possitivity in the fight for mental health.

So, in order to maintain expectations and avoid depression and anxiety, it appears as though emotional inteligence is the solution (at least for me).

Busy not working

Leading up to part 2 of my CCNP exam this week, I've found that while I've been unemployed for 3 weeks now (due to redundancy), I've not been any less busy.

It's a strange feeling being unemployed, busy juggling study, job seeking (and keeping active on this blog) and also being removed from the job and environment that I'm most familiar with.

What's even more wierd is that I have a home office where I used to perform some of my job as part of my previous employers hybrid work model, but I now find myself spend most of my time studying and job searching in the same physical environment, which feels alot like work except for the fact that I don't get paid for any of it.

I guess I need to maintain a positive outlook and attitude and keep in the back of my mind (awareness) that I'm actually not working and that what I'm doing on a daily basis is not actually a job despite the fact that it has the the feel of being in one!

Blog Revival

Revival of the Blog

It has been years since I've touched this blog, but with the demise of Google+ it's probably for the better.

So, what has happened since I abandoned the Blog?

The short story:
I bought an overpiced house, got married, changed jobs a few times (including a promotion to Network Engineer) had a child, then two more (at the same time - twins!) and now I am sitting here putrting some text onto my blog.

Theres been quite a lot more than that happen obviously, and I've done quite a lot of tech stuff in my limited time that I get, but that should all start again soon as time permits of course.

Broken

#dd if=/dev/brain of=blogg

It's now going on almost three years since my anxiety disorder first entered my life uninvited and about six months since I last slept properly, not feeling like I'd only had a few hours sleep.

Now marriage is on the horizon and life is getting twenty times busier, what with what feels like a one and only chance to recertify and upskill.

Finances are causing untold stress as well, which puts more pressure on me for the above reasons and future plans (read: family).

Sadly, I can only see realism and logic, 1's and 0's, if then else. This can and regularly does get perceived as negative, not very helpful to my cause.

My way of thinking probably isn't normal, but what is? More importantly, why should I change that if that is who I am?

I'm now at a point where my relationship with the fiancée is stretched to the point of breaking, like a rubber band that keeps stretching, but amazingly hasn't broken. Yet.

I can see part of my father in the way I do certain things, which scares the heck out of me, because I do not want to be like him. I want to be me, and I most certainly don't want to be encumbered by the same physical and/or psychological issues he portpotedly has.

I am so tired, both literally and figuratively and I am finding it very difficult to continue on this 'do until' or 'do while' life.

I'm also very disappointed in myself, for not getting the career on track earlier in my life.

I'm also frustrated that all my hard work isn't recognised at all, that I forget so many simple things, nor can I focus at my job or my studies, adding more stress in getting ahead.

I am not seeking sympathy, but I am trying to find positivity at work and in my life, which just aren't anywhere to be seen.

Resurrection of the Blog(s)

After a short discussion with a PLUG (Perth Linux Users Group) member, I have come to realise that syndication of my posts is probably better off on one or more of my Blogs (see sidebar or my profile for more information) and link them in Google+

The realisation came because I should not keep a walled-garden mentality and be more agnostic and probably more accessible to those who do not use the service while providing an easy method for those who do, to follow the link within the platform to read the article if they choose.

I will also be posting more personal matters here in order to help me collect my thoughts and work through my issues such as my anxiety disorder and the inherent depression that comes from it.

Again, you may choose to read it, or you may choose to ignore it.

life update

Yes, I have neglected the blog for quite some time now, but only because Google+ had distracted me for the most part.

I have managed to loose approximately 5Kg of weight through eating (or should I say drinking) meal replacements, eating smaller portions, significantly reducing carbohydrates and exercising a bit more.

My stress levels are still high since I successfully completed my Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) on October, but thanks to my doctor and a renewed approach to work (ie. less caring) I'm able to cope a little bit better.

One of the biggest issues I am faced with right now is the frustration that comes with trying to pursue my chosen career.


I foresee a major delays in my current employer providing career progression due mostly to the radical changes to the business and sadly I must look elsewhere.

So, I have my CCNA as well as some practical experience from a previous job (before I got the qualification) as well as many hours of lab time on Cisco equipment and I know my way around IOS very well but most of the Network Engineer/Administrator roles I am applying for I am barely getting to interview stage.

I am wondering if part of the problem is that recruiters and employers don't seem to comprehend what is actually required to get a CCNA (there is a lot of lab time and one must fully understand the content to successfully pass) and they are mostly under the impression that the curriculum is purely theory-based, which is entirely untrue.

I have begun reaching out to my collective friends, colleagues, acquaintances and recruiters in the hopes that I can secure a new role that actually exploits my strong Cisco skills.

Lucky for me I can be quite stubborn, and I don't give up so easily.

There has been more social interaction with Google+ friends, and a little less with my old group of friends, but this is in part due to their obsession with Warhammer (tabletop) and the games that they all play are not the genre that I am interested in, which has my slightly concerned.

I'm also not sure what game in my libraries I want to play next as I often find that I am too tired to engross myself in some of them and as such find myself tending to avoid them.

This year is anything but interesting with all of the above and more, but hopefully I will be able to get back to enjoying myself like I used too.

- D

RATIONALISING TAX

"Natural disasters are perhaps evolving into MAN MADE disasters.

We may appreciate, for example, that Queensland floods could be exacerbated by coal exports.

Maybe taxes can evolve to suit circumstances!

An all important "Carbon Tax" should replace out-dated income tax and last century's G.S.T. (Not to mention Sales tax, flood levys, etc.)

Imagine the stimulus to the economy!

What do we, especially grand children and children, deserve?

MAYBE HOPE.

One tax - one future!!"

This is an interesting notion. Why not remove all other (or at least most) failed tax systems and replace them with a single rationalised (and given the current climate changes, possibly justified one)?


References:

1. Bergin, R. (2011). Rationalising Tax. Unpublished leaflet (discussion)