A Good Word in the Storm? #hugops

Photo by Korney Violin on Unsplash

To the DevOpsDays family,

Hey all, a good word is hard to come by. This is an unfortunate aspect of life that appears to be exacerbated in a modern hyper-paced and over-connected world. Here in the States we see things starting to freeze – grinding to a halt. Our stock market is dropping like a stone. Good news has disappeared. Events and gatherings are being canceled and postponed, leaving even us hard-core introverts left with nothing to distract us but the steady drum beat of concerning news.

We hold these DevOpsDays events for a variety of reasons. Speaking for myself (but I suspect many will agree), key among them: connection and community. Development has become so dynamic and the software ecosystem so fluid. There is too much to know. We must distribute the load and develop our network of people – connection is no longer a nice-to-have (not that it ever was but you know how powerful we used to feel with an MSDN license and a library of install CDs). #OnionTiedToMyBelt 

DevOpsDays gives us a way to stay abreast with what one another is doing and experiencing. But DevOpsDays also offers an odd juxtaposition. It is both a respite from all those who “just don’t get it” and it is a warning and a wake-up call to get yourself in gear! There is no stronger motivation than getting into a room with hundreds of people who are all beating me. 

I was not sure if I should send this out. I was concerned that my words would somehow hurt someone who has been tragically affected by this virus. We should be mindful that in making the decision to postpone or cancel these events we are probably saving lives. That is humbling to consider. For anyone who is suffering loss, hardship and pain – you have my sympathy. 

In this pause, take a moment to consider those around you and spread a good word. Many Spring Break plans have been cancelled. Schools have been closed. Offices are asking people to work from home. Families will now see more of each other than they likely had over the past however many months! Family dinners and possibly even lunches may be on the rise! Conversations will fill this pause. Acquaintances will renew and we will be reminded of what was too close to us to appreciate under “normal” circumstances. We will see clearly the riches we are all surrounded with. Fear and pain and loss will be replaced with gratitude. The infection curve will hit the inflection point. We will go back to “conferencing” and I suspect that it will be all the harder to honor the “no hugs, just verbal greetings” advisories when that happens. 

In the meantime, share a good word. Have a BBQ. Play chess with your neighbor. Pet your dog. Take a deep breath and of course, do not forget to wash your hands. 

much love, 

Dan Collins - Founder DevOpsDays Houston