

It’s less about the y2k bug itself and more about the cultural phenomenon. It was everywhere, and it was huge, and then absolutely nothing happened. It was the best possible outcome AND the funniest possible outcome.
With stuff like that, it hits different when you live through it and it’s part of popular culture for years. It leaves grooves in the ole neurons.
In contrast I could think about how terrifying the Cuban missile crisis must have been. The fiery end of the world could happen at any moment and everybody knows it. And we even find out afterward that the world was basically saved by one Soviet service member. I can empathize with living through that, but since it happened long before I was born, I don’t have the vivid memories of the actual emotions invading my normal day to day.
Oof, I think I might be you from about 13 years in the future, after it all falls apart and you are deep into putting it all back together knowing much more about yourself.
I’m trying to think of how to distill this down into something memorable yet meaningful…
Make your personal well-being a top priority in your daily life, and make actual decisions based on that. But this is easier said than done, because we all have differed customized manuals for our brains and bodies, and we do not get a copy, so we must reverse engineer it. So look for opportunities to do the thing that you know will lift your spirits or get you moving instead of the thing that you actually want to do. For me this was usually socializing with friends, or giving in when my son wants to play way too much and I’m in the middle of a game or project. Or with work, deciding to drive to work with the windows down rather than snoozing a bit longer and working from home because my ADHD ass is useless working from home.
Lean into your hobbies, especially if they do not involve what you do at work. Double especially if they get you outside. Make conscious decisions to funnel more of your time and money towards the big hobby. This should not feel like a commitment or homework, it should feel like permission to do something you already want to do. Having something to be eager and excited about, something to look forward to, is good for the mind. For me, this centers around nature and animals. We have tons of pets now, but my big hobby is my koi pond. I am upgrading it this year, so for several weeks I have been spending hours at a time outside playing in the dirt, doing construction. I am lifting heavy shit while listening to music and going extended periods without seeing a screen. My phone is often in some shade by my tools while I use wireless earbuds.
Oh and drugs are your friend. That goes for ADHD medication, other mental health meds, and of course weed used in the right ways.