I’m not completely hopeless, my friends. I have managed to figure out, in my dotage, that when people complain about problems, the last thing they want is to have solutions suggested to them. It took me a while, but I got there.
This is why, when I was told by a colleague (who is also on sabbatical) that he feels panicked because time flies, he isn’t getting anything done, and he has no idea where the first 2.5 months of his sabbatical have gone, I abstained from sharing that I have a notebook in which I record all the work I do every day of my sabbatical.
I understand that the colleague extracts some not insignificant emotional benefit from presenting himself as confused and incapable, so I respected his hustle.
I’m sincerely proud of myself right now. I had the notebook with me during the conversation. I could have whipped it out at any moment, but I managed to realize that it was not going to be welcome. I could have made a sworn enemy right there on the spot, but I deftly avoided doing that.
I could have made a lifelong friend instead if I complained that I’m also not doing anything on sabbatical, but I don’t see the point of lying for such a puny gain.
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