I’m a “Work-Arounder”

Posted on by Victoria

I’d never get away with a post touting myself as a problem solver.

Too many people could testify otherwise, and I choose not to bait them. šŸ˜‰ Yet I DO have skills. Today, my Vicki rant is about navigating and persevering – using an example with a spin cycle bike.

I like to think of myself as a flexible person.  Nimble, even.  But the truth?  Under pressure and outside of my professional roles, I can be the first one to fold.  I can be hyper-sensitive to even a modicum of conflict and somehow the role of problem solver and mediator conjures remembrances of feelings where I had very little agency.  A by-product of my childhood that I still carry?  Fatalistic thinking?  A belief that the outcomeā€™s already determined?  Maybe. And although I canā€™t whoosh the feelings away, I figure awareness gives me a head start. 

Maybe this is why I enjoy the nearness of die-hard ā€œproblem solversā€.  The folks who love a good conundrum, lining up to face the challenges before them.  The most perplexing puzzles ā€“ pour moi – involve unraveling techy complexities.  Aack. Abhorrent and yet unavoidable.

But living life ā€“ as opposed to hermit-ing myself away ā€“ requires that I engage and slog through the muck ā€“ whether technical or borne of bad behavior. I can self-talk my way into the game but my over-used affirmations fade as soon as I encounter a hurdle. Even one as low as an innocent speed bump.  Still an impediment, I say.

Case in point?  The stupid tablet on my spin cycle bike died on me.  Iā€™ve been consistent for about nine months (my fitness incubation period?) and JUST as I dared to laud myself for my stick-to-itive-ness, my monitor died.  How will I carry on, I wondered?  Iā€™m on a streak for Peteā€™s sake.  Catastrophizing is something Iā€™ll indulge in for a moment or two, but typically I coax myself into recovery and repair mode.

I didnā€™t win the first, second or third rounds of doing battle with supposed online ā€˜help support’.  I hate bots. I’m just gonna say it. The FAQ community of do-gooders failed me as well. 

A bike…sometimes regarded as a torture deviceā€¦not even a year oldā€¦ has betrayed me. 

Frustrated, I summoned the hubster and as the ever-methodical engineer that he is, he began HIS first phase of repair work:  Discovery.  Umā€¦see me?  I done did ALL the discovery, dear one.  I just told you exactly whatā€™s wrong.  I even did a live demo so you could see that I attempted repairsā€¦and STILL you wave me away so you can do some version of your own diagnostics? 

That breeze you feel, dear reader?

Itā€™s the gust of wind I created when I harrumphed away.  I retreated. I know better than to stand sentry when I wanna spew.  Iā€™m no good at problem solving when my lavaā€™s rising but you know what I AM good at? 

Yep.  Iā€™m the best-ever ā€˜work-arounderā€™.  I canā€™t use my tablet.  NBD.  I can use the same app on my phone.  Grantedā€¦my fave spin cycle teacher will be no larger than my thumbnail…on my pinky finger… but Iā€™ve been at this long enough, I surmise.  I can figure it out.  Even though the class only renders in a side-ways view on my phone, Iā€™m making do ā€“ so long as I hold the handlebars now and then so my cockeyed gaze at the tiny screen doesnā€™t propel me off the bike. 

Really, I should be selling tickets, ya know?

The ETA on the restoration of the tablet?  Heaven only knows.  And I donā€™t care.  My workout set-up is a little unconventionalā€¦my phone at an odd angle and the sound quality stinks, but it was enough for me to move my bodyā€¦yesterday and todayā€¦whilst hubster Paul is threading the needle, deliberately and methodically moving from discoveryā€¦to diagnosticsā€¦and presumablyā€¦to repair? 

Yah.Ā  Iā€™m impatient.Ā  But I get the job done in the most Vicki-like way.Ā  Just donā€™t ask Paul for his opinion of my ā€˜fixā€™.Ā  We’ve been married since the dawn of time and I know his response. Heā€™ll sigh and drop his head, then shrug his shoulders.Ā  In his mind, waiting for the ACTUAL fix is important.Ā  In my mind? This girl just wants to move, even if it doesnā€™t look too pretty.Ā 

Vicki šŸ„°

P.S. I wasn’t joking about being married forever…see below.

Forty Years…Plus

41 thoughts on “I’m a “Work-Arounder””

  2. “Married since the dawn of time.” Wow! What was it like talking to Adam and Eve? How about the serpent? Your autobiography will be long, so you’d better get started, Vicki!

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  3. Oh you’re killing me Vicki, how can I skip my workout today when you’re over there being nimble and flexible spinning away all while looking at the tiny screen phone. Now that’s commitment! You’re killing my excuse for the day. Now I have to to get out and get my exercise in. Ha, ha. You’re too hard on yourself. Sticktoitiveness is a good thing, a great thing!!!! I suspect I would have been left along the side of road if I didn’t have my sticktoitiveness and resilience. Ha. ha.

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    1. No skipping…your workout, that is. But skipping could BE your workout, come to think of it. Hmm…no technology involved at all! Just think of me with my head tilted to the right as I try to follow the choreography – whilst pedaling. I’ve only dropped my hand weights once…but it was better than jettisoning myself off the bike! šŸ˜œ

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      1. That’s exactly the image I have. Your head turned sideways, legs churning, cranking out the miles. Go Vicki Go. No pain, no gain. This is how Tour de France Winners are made. No technology, that’s okay, Vicki knows how to “improvise.” šŸ™‚ šŸ™‚ šŸ™‚

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  5. Ha! I love this! I am forever finding workarounds, Vicki. And like you, just when I get consistent with something, I get interrupted by whatever and it breaks my new good habit. Thankfully though, the last few times it has happened, I was able to get back on the proverbial bike. Ha! Weā€™ll beat this! And your hubby will get your bike fixed too. Wink!

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    1. I LOVE your positivity, Sheila! You always have the best ‘big picture’ thoughts about daily dilemmas. Thanks for that — and good to know I’ve got a soul sister in persevering mode. Thanks for the company! šŸ„°

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  6. Nothing wrong with a good work-around. Sometimes I think my whole life is a work-around but I keep on ticking. Maybe someday someone can find the ACTUAL fix for me. Nah. I like it the way it is. Keep on moving!

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  7. “Really, I should be selling tickets, ya know?” šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£ As long as I don’t have to sign up for another streaming service.

    Though I’m a naturally curious person, most of the time I just want things to work. When we were first married and had no money, I used to fix (or at least try) everything myself. Lacking the mechanical gene, it usually took three times as long as it should. Now, I throw in the towel more quickly and ask someone to throw me a life raft (i.e., call a repair person) Like you, I miss an actual sympathetic person instead of bots with no personality who usually can’t address my specific situation.

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    1. Another connecting thread between us, Pete! I bet you’re more patient with Debbie than I am with Paul! Oh, what our partners put up with, eh? And look at you — you’ve got the best sense of humor. Tee-hee! Selling tickets…sure thing…but I won’t make you sign up for any streaming service. Too funny! šŸ¤£šŸ„°šŸ¤£

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  9. I love it, dear Vicki!! A triumph of figuring out the workaround and continuing your streak. I love problem-solving but figuring out a good work around is just as powerful — maybe even more! Especially for us impatient types. Love your flexibility and commitment. So, so good! ā¤ ā¤ ā¤

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  14. Pingback: I’m a Work-Arounder: Part D’Oh! – The Heart of the Matter

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