There are times when people have said I’m pessimistic – a glass is half empty kind of guy. OK, it’s probably often that this is said. Fine, most of the time.
While some say that, “Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining”, I’ve been known to say, “Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud!”
Now this attitude wasn’t planted by being in the cube, although it definitely was fertilized there. Actually, this attitude has been cultivated from day one. My Mom had influence. Getting rejected by people…fine girls…growing up. And, as I grew up, I’ve been exposed to many things which impacted my outlook on life.
The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much;
if he is an optimist after it, he knows too little.
–Mark Twain
And, yes the corporate wold has impacted my attitudes as well.
Every day we’re all faced with challenges put in front of us that may take the most positive person in the world and turn them jaded grumpy old man. I’ve heard people say that the best part of their day is between the hours when they wake up and before they get to the office – a time when they are fresh, clear and haven’t been brought down by the looming email smoking turds of the day.
Today, given it’s the last work day of the week I decided to get into the cube extra early. After all, get in early, get out earlier!
Apparently everyone else had the same idea. So, after spending 45+ minutes staring at the bumper in front of me and listening to the latest news related to the so called Super Committee throwing in the towel and once again kicking the can down the road, I arrived at my glorious cube. And, what was the first thing I was greeted with?
Wait, What? Didn’t I just go through this exercise? Seriously, it can’t be that time again can it? The thought of spending the better part of my last day before the 4-day U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday coming up with a new password, then resetting the half-dozen or so sites and tools that use this yet somehow aren’t synced together, made me want to cry before my morning coffee even had a chance to get cold.
But, then I sensed something. Every once in a while, you are given a gift. It’s extremely rare, but sometimes Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, December holiday not associated with religion as we must remain politically correct) present.
Today, is the last work day before the 4-day Thanksgiving Weekend (work used lightly as most will do nothing and leave early). Yet, knowing my company, with its worldwide presence and people (George) in the office who tend to work at all hours of the day/weekends/holidays, the odds are good that the great email machine will keep churning even while I watch football and eat enough calories to feed a small circus.
Then it dawned on me. “Your password expires today.” TODAY! Meaning, what if, 
while I strive for unattainable levels of productivity I “forget” to reset my password? Wait, that would mean I can’t log into our servers.
Wait, What? Slow down here. That means I won’t be able to get and respond to email! And, there’s clearly no way our IT staff would respond to a phone call saying, “can you please reset my password” on this national holiday weekend. I’ll have to wait until Monday for them to re-grant me access. SCORE!!
So, on this day before we celebrate Thanksgiving, I would like to give thanks to the great password reset gods for giving me this 4-day gift of freedom.
Maybe, just maybe, my coffee cup is half full today!
The Cubicle Views 