Posts Tagged With: Richard Feynman

Day 3970: Why do I feel so stupid?

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Ann Koplow

On the 3970th day of this daily blog, why do I feel so stupid?

Lots of reasons, including

The email on my phone stopped updating with new messages on Sunday.
When I searched for solutions to the problem online, there was a recommendation for me to delete the cache and I couldn’t do the steps suggested on my phone.
I don’t know what or where the cache is in that context.
I tried to make a Genius Bar appointment at my local Apple Store and couldn’t do that either, despite trying several times.
When I was on a chat with an Apple support person this morning and started updating my phone, he wrote “I hope you created a backup before you did that” and I had to reply “Ooops. No. Am I in trouble?”
Technology issues like this make me feel so stupid that I feel the urge to explain to the support person why I am not as stupid as I seem.
Another Apple support person just asked me to sign into my email provider’s website on my phone and I had to tell him (1) I don’t know how to do that, (2) I don’t think I remember my password, and (3) I’m writing a blog post about how stupid I feel about all this.
He just wrote “No need to beat yourself up” so he is obviously smarter than I am.

Actually, he helped me fix the problem really easily and now I no longer feel as stupid as I did five minutes ago.

But why do I feel so stupid if I encounter problems with technology when I know that I’m not alone in that?

Why do I feel so stupid if I have proven to myself and others many times that I am not stupid at all?

Why do I feel so stupid if I constantly tell people in therapy that labels like “stupid” are toxic and just wrong?

Why do I feel so stupid and annoyed if I’m talking in a meeting and somebody interrupts me?

Why do I feel so stupid when I can’t think of a better segue to start sharing my images for today?

Why do I feel so stupid when I have trouble making trivial decisions, like which list of daily holidays to share with people?

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “why do I feel so stupid?”

I also find this:

Richard Feynman felt stupid, too!

Thanks to all who help me feel better no matter how stupid I feel, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Apple support, cats, cognitive behavioral therapy, November 15 2023, Richard Feynman, technology insecurity, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Dunning Kruger Effect, The Infographics Show, tin ceiling, Twitter | 9 Comments

Day 3946: Smart is Cool Day

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Ann Koplow

Happy Smart is Cool Day, everybody!

Let’s see whether the National Days website has anything smart or cool to share about Smart is Cool Day.

I actually knew that smart people have rich, interesting lives and stories worth sharing, and not just because I’m currently reading this book:

Personally, I believe that smart is cool every day of the year, and I wonder why so many other people don’t share that opinion.

Wouldn’t it be cool if my other images for today were a good match for Smart Is Cool Day?

On CAPS Lock Day (and every day), I THINK WE NEED SMART, COOL PEOPLE TO HELP CLEAN UP THE EARTH.

On Smart is Cool Day, I want to learn something about Kof Awareness Day, of which I was not aware.

Cool! Now let’s see what I find on YouTube when I search for “smart is cool day.”

As you can see in that video, one suggestion for how to celebrate Smart is Cool Day is to take an IQ test. Here’s something cool about IQ tests I just found on a smart and cool website:

On Smart is Cool Day, 2023, I find that both surprising and somewhat reassuring.

Thanks to everyone who helped me create this Smart is Cool Day post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Angela Loyd, Babbling Day, CAPS Lock Day, IQ tests, Kof Awareness Day, October 22 2023, Richard Feynman, sanity, self-care, Twitter, U.S. politics | 12 Comments

What’s trending now, here, includes dealing with the peeling paint on our metal ceiling and preparing for my son Aaron starting a mathematics PhD program in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While people were helping me with both of those issues, I saw this: