Your time is your own
Dear Annie: I work in a yarn mill. I am not unfriendly with my co-workers, but don't socialize with them, as we have very little in common.
There is a former co-worker who is having modest success musically. She is playing in regional venues and appeared on statewide PBS. She is somewhat of a local hero. I am not a fan in the least!
She will be playing a concert at the mill after work. They'll have a catered meal for us we can eat while watching the concert before going home.
I would prefer to leave after the work is done, as I am not a fan of hers and would rather spend the time with my family. Would I be rude to leave? Heard Enough
Dear Heard: As soon as you clock out, your time is your own. I see nothing wrong with going home to your family. It's also the safer option, COVID19-wise. As an aside, I encourage you to celebrate your co-worker's musical success. It will be much better for your health than resenting it.
Dear Annie: I, as well as many others, do not understand why television shows have to play music when the people on the show are talking. I may not have the best hearing, but it is very difficult to understand what the actors are saying.
Sometimes, the music covers up their voices completely. If there is something you can do to convince them to stop, that would be awesome.
What Did You Say
Dear WDYS: I wish I had that kind of power! As it is, I'm happy to print your letter to raise what awareness I can.
For what it's worth, some hard-of-hearing readers have reported that closed captioning makes watching TV far less frustrating. Also, some TVS come with a “Clear Voice” audio setting that might help.
Dear Annie: I have a salaried job and can mostly work from home. I have fared better during this pandemic than many people, but right now I feel like butter that's been spread over too much toast. I find myself obsessed with current events — constantly refreshing Twitter or turning on the news. I scroll through my phone in bed. I feel so hopeless, but I can't stop looking. Fading Fast
Dear Fading: Make your bedroom a phone-free zone. Having our phones around keeps our brains engaged and makes it difficult to fall asleep and get high-quality sleep. And quality sleep is essential to mental health. Second, go on a news diet. Set a certain amount of minutes or a certain window of time during which you'll check the news, and steer clear of it otherwise.
Lastly, you'll feel less depressed about the general state of the world if you feel you're doing your part to improve it. Figure out which causes you care most passionately about, and get plugged in with a relevant organization.
Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at creators.com.