3 Positive Things Part 7

[gooblax]

1. I'm really nervous about going to collect the delivery I got from the parcel collection point. It's the last day before they return it as an uncollected item so I have to go do it. I know this anxiety is irrational and all I have to do is say "Good morning, I'm here to pickup a package. Here's the barcode" and show them the barcode on my phone to scan, say "thanks, bye" and that'll be about it. Not difficult. Going to go do it after I post this.
2. By the time I've done that, the grocery store will be open so I can get my groceries.
3. Then I can come back and hide in my apartment and play some more Super Mario for the rest of the morning.

Edit: Well I tried. Apparently they can't do it today as they "don't have the facilities." So I'm back stuck trying to do it on a week day (which I'd avoided due to anxiety plus trying to get there with enough time before they close which was adding anxiety because of the best thing to do - riding my bike to the shop - being scary because I don't like the traffic around there), assuming they don't send it back already. Dunno why they have themselves listed for Sunday if they can't do it on a Sunday. I'd obviously have made more of an effort on a different day if I'd known.

Now I have to pull myself together enough to go get groceries and not get caught using my shirt as a tissue. And not beat myself up for being a coward and stuffing things up.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

You're not a coward. There are a lot of inconsistencies in business hours and such, especially in government departments, these days. Trying to figure it all out has become almost impossible.

Rather than go by what's listed on websites or in Google listings, I've taken to phoning ahead to confirm whether they are actually open and whether the service I need is actually available on any given day. The posted information, even on the door, has at least as much chance of being wrong as being correct, at best.

 

[Daniel E.]

I must be spoiled because I have never had to pickup a package, though I have done so occassionally as an option so that I could get the package sooner. The post office, UPS, or FedEx would always offer to re-deliver.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

The post office and the courier services are definitely relaxing some of the rules with the pandemic and social distancing, ringing the bell and leaving packages at the door.

But some packages require a signature still and for that you have to be home or go to the post office.

 

[gooblax]

You're not a coward.

If I'd just ridden my bike there the first day - when I instead dropped my bike home then tried to walk but gave up at 75% of the way there because I would've arrived just as they were closing and I figured that would make them annoyed and possibly wouldn't be willing to do it then - this wouldn't have been a problem. And the reason I didn't do that was because of the people on the footpath and roads. So yes, cowardice.

There are a lot of inconsistencies in business hours and such, especially in government departments, these days. Trying to figure it all out has become almost impossible.
Rather than go by what's listed on websites or in Google listings, I've taken to phoning ahead to confirm whether they are actually open and whether the service I need is actually available on any given day. The posted information, even on the door, has at least as much chance of being wrong as being correct, at best.

I definitely wouldn't have phoned them.

I must be spoiled because I have never had to pickup a package, though I have done so occassionally as an option so that I could get the package sooner. The post office, UPS, or FedEx would always offer to re-deliver.

Normally I'd take the risk and let them leave the package while I'm at work, but thought it would be less stressful to pick it up considering my dodgy neighbours at the moment.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Your self-criticism is brutally unforgiving and completely devoid of compassion.

 

[gooblax]

I don't think the situation warrants compassion.
Now I have to decide whether to try and get it tomorrow somehow, or just let it get sent back and give it a miss since they say the'll give a refund for an undeliverable package. In my mind "by tomorrow" means excluding tomorrow so it might not even be possible to get it anyway. Dunno if it's worse to try and fail again or not try at all.

 

[Daniel E.]

I don't think the situation warrants compassion.

A common cycle to avoid:

Self-downing --> Depression/anxiety --> Behavioral inhibition/avoidance --> Self-downing

 

[Daniel E.]

1. After 2+ weeks, my transition from Lexapro to Prozac has been going pretty well.

2. Sister-in-law came over yesterday, and it was cool enough to hang out on the porch.

3. The larger TV has helped my eyes when I use my laptop in the living room. Before, my eyes were glued to the laptop, causing eye strain. Now my eyes take their own breaks looking at the TV in the periphery.

 

[gooblax]

1. Got an email this morning saying that the package is going back. So I don't have to rush over there this afternoon only to find that out. I'm definitely not getting anything delivered to that pickup location again. I could have tried first thing this morning but I didn't want to deal with the same thing happening (eg. no can't do it until 9am... 9am rolls around and they finally check and had already registered it for returning).

2. I keep a sweater at my desk because it's always cold in the office. Someone's made it colder today but I have a 2nd jumper if necessary.

3. Daniel's post about the negative cycle I was getting into was correct, and helped me realise why I was feeling so miserable (Hmmmm, who'd have guessed being mean to myself would make me feel bad?! It had a delayed reaction though so it wasn't immediately obvious to me.) I dunno if I want to do anything about it - I still believe the mean stuff and think I deserve to be punished for not collecting the package correctly. Maybe enough punishment would be to not reorder it. But I already told a colleague that I'd ordered it so I dunno. If I reorder after they process the refund, I'll lose about $16 that was the discounted price at the time. In terms of punishment... Trying to think of it the way the counsellor suggested - trying to control something to deal with an important but uncontrollable situation. Which is supposed to empower me to pick something positive to control rather than something harmful.

 

[Daniel E.]

BONUS: Found out my new chiropractor is from Canada (Ontario). Now I know why she was so nice

:canadian:

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Yeah we've been trying to get rid of chiropractors. Up here, we prefer real doctors.

 

[Daniel E.]

If she does a good job with my sciatica, I will gift her some cheese curds

 

[gooblax]

1. Tidying up some admin tasks this morning at work to get them off my plate.
2. Said hi to the unauthorised dog this morning, from afar. It just watched as I got my bike ready.
3. Beat the other female cyclist/shower-user to work easily today.

 

[Daniel E.]

1. The lane assist in the minivan helped a lot when I had to change lanes quickly today in Phoenix. It is instant reassuarance


2. Jimmy John's subs. (I don't think they are open yet in Canada, but it is a national alternative to Subway.)


3. McDonald's has coffee on sale for the rest of the year with the app.

 

[gooblax]

1. Still having ear problems (probably since the doctor only partially fixed it!) but it's doing better now than a couple of hours ago.
2. Trying not to be judgemental about what I was thinking before my alarm this morning - that I kind of want to show my soft toy dog to my therapist. On a weirdness/freak scale of 1-10 it seems about a 50 (where is it really on the scale?) but I wouldn't judge other people so harshly for this if they had a valid reason.
3. I miss Friday waffles. Might message my old team if I can find a waffle-related meme.

 

[Daniel E.]

Work shirt:

 

[gooblax]

Bonus: Saw the spider on my handlebars before getting my bike off the rack at work. The 5 minutes it took to eventually get it off (it kept crawling under the handlebar, between the screws at the front, into the gap on the reflective plate etc.) was worth it to not have it suddenly appear on my hand mid-ride.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Did it look like this?

 

[gooblax]

:rofl:
A much smaller one thankfully.