Over two weeks ago, my computer decided that it didn't want to send it's video signal to the monitor.
I tapped the keyboard's space bar, and nothing happened. I pressed the caps lock button and the light didn't turn on.
Initially I suspected the graphics card and worried it was going to be expensive. I asked online and the general consensus was that I just needed to take out the CMOS battery and reinsert it.
The CMOS battery helps maintain the internal clock memory of the computer and a build up of static cause them to cease functioning. (It pays to keep the covers closed on your computer's case).
Reinserting the battery worked, but I had gone through the panic of thinking it was the graphics card, and the expense of buying a new HDMI cable to humour someone.
That someone was my friend who has his own Apple computer maintenance business. He said it wasn't the CMOS battery and that the 'wisdom of the crowd' is rarely correct. He was wrong twice there.
He had a computer and a replacement HDMI for me, I just needed to get to his house to pick them up. (Later it turns out he forgot the power cord).
I met him in the city of Adelaide as he was still dealing with clients then. He told me to meet him "diagonally across from the Griffin's Head Hotel" which to me meant that he was in the nearby car park.
He wasn't there at all. He sent me a map location which was also incorrect.
We eventually met up in the corner of the RAA building and I gave him the third degree. He of course, blame shifted and deflected: "Let's not go over the past."
"But what if it happens again?" I countered.
"I won't happen again..." he retorted.
I suspect I need a better class of friends...
The cat hutch in the picture is for sale, by the way.
I love the idea of a palm tree in suburbia.
Soon my friend and I sat down over a cup of freshly brewed bitter cold coffee on ice to chat about things.
And yes, even as a diabetic my first thought was that it needed sugar.
One of his suggestions was that I apply for jobs at my local burger places, namely McDonald's and Hungry Jack's (our equivalent of Burger King) and not to apply online but to go in and speak to the manager in person.
I wasn't sure whether to be offended or not. We're both I.T. experts and the idea of being reduced to "flipping burgers" was a confronting one, or at least one that I had been turning my nose up at for many decades.
However, after the what I've had to endure over the last few years I can't afford to turn my nose up at anything. Rent needs to be paid every week regardless.
The self limiting beliefs that came to the forefront were "They're not going to hire me!" (Stemming from a fear of rejection) "I'm not fast enough!", "What if I have to deal with abusive customers?"', etc. and generally not feeling "good enough".
Mentally, this is a lot of baggage and it can lead to a lot of self sabotage.
In psychology, these are called "introjects". They are part of your mindscape, but they come from our environments, people we've met and things that were said to us and about us that we have believed and incorporated into our personalities.
I am not a psychologist, but recent life events have had me unofficially studying the subject and my word there's a lot nonsense out there on the subject.
But I know where these messages came from and, under no uncertain terms, know where they go to aswell. (Diplomatic version).
I did end up applying for work at my local McDonald's, after their website intially had crashed and i had to wait a day for them to fix it.
I also started applying to all sorts of jobs in the local area, most of which are outsourced to A.I. screening services, some even offering psych evaluations as inaccurate as a horoscope!
Hahahaha. You have to laugh at these things.
Once you're aware of your self limiting beliefs, you can overcome them. Embrace the journey.
Thanks for reading.
Shaidon.
PS, I am a real human being and your comments and upvotes make difference. Thank you for your support.
