Well, I feel like today has been pretty much a bust.
I managed to accomplish what I’m calling my bare minimum requirements. I got my work done (the stuff I actually get paid to do), went for a walk, and completed a workout video. Now, before anyone pictures me crushing an hour-long boot camp, let’s be clear—these workout videos are only 15 minutes long. But I’m embracing the philosophy that fifteen minutes is still infinitely better than zero minutes, and right now I’m counting every little win.
Unfortunately, everything I actually wanted to accomplish today completely fell apart.
My big goal was to dust off my LinkedIn profile. I haven’t logged in for at least 15 years, but somehow I’m still using the same email address, which means I can’t just pretend that version of me never existed and start over. The plan was simple: update my profile, start looking for a PRN job, and hopefully earn a little extra money while taking on a new challenge. Paying off a few things and having a little more breathing room each month sounds pretty appealing.
LinkedIn, however, apparently isn’t convinced I’m actually me.
First, I had to reset a password that was probably created back when flip phones were still considered cutting-edge technology. Then LinkedIn informed me it needed to verify my identity using a photo ID and facial recognition. Easy enough… or so I thought.
Thirty minutes later, after struggling far longer than any reasonably intelligent adult should have, I finally figured out how to complete the verification process. I wish I had some exciting explanation for why it took so long, but honestly, I just had issues.
Feeling victorious, I waited for my account to unlock.
Instead, LinkedIn politely informed me that my information would now be reviewed—a process that takes at least 24 hours.
Awesome.
So that goal was officially dead before lunch.
Not wanting to admit defeat, I decided to pivot. Since the university I work for offers an employee tuition waiver, I thought it would be fun to take one class each semester just to learn something new. No degree. No pressure. Just something interesting to keep my brain occupied.
Turns out the tuition waiver doesn’t apply to online classes.
Apparently, if I want to use it, I need to physically attend classes a couple of times a week during the workday, which would mean taking leave from my actual job. That wasn’t exactly the flexible lifelong-learning experience I had envisioned.
Still determined to salvage the day, I figured I’d browse MIT’s free online courses.
Nothing.
Maybe there are amazing classes hidden in there somewhere, but today absolutely none of them sounded interesting. At that point I had to accept that perhaps I was not only being too picky but I was also in a spectacularly bad mood after having every plan derailed by technology and logistics.
So I’ve decided to wave the white flag.
Today’s attempt at becoming a more productive, intellectually curious version of myself has officially been postponed until tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow’s version of me has better luck.
For now, the plan is simple: survive my last hour of work, head home to my monkeys, breathe in the lingering aroma of what can only be described as “Eau de Skunk,” make dinner, and spend a couple of hours relaxing with my family.
Honestly, after today, that sounds like a pretty successful ending after all.