Ex Post Facto –or– things you'll wish you had known earlier

Before we start: I’d like to know what would be most helpful for me to write about. Would you mind taking 30 seconds to answer this tiny survey to tell me what work challenges you’re up against? It’ll help me help a whole lot of readers! <3 Thanks so much!

I’ve been thinking about the Latin phrase “ex post facto” lately.

Nerdy, I know, but hear me out, ok?

The other day, a podcast host asked me the classic question, “What advice would you give your younger self?”

Usually, this would make me think about what I’d tell high school Shane, but this time it got me thinking about what I’d tell 2018 Shane:

Credit card statements don’t count as receipts in an IRS audit, Shane.

Why? Well, because right as coronavirus descended on New York City, I got a notice that I was being randomly audited. And apparently, I could be getting a serious refund if I had just kept some more receipts. I had no idea that credit card statements weren’t sufficient.

Oops.

Usually we use ex post facto when we are talking about retroactive laws. It literally means, “done after the fact.” But I enjoy thinking about the idea of retroactive knowledge…

I mean, wouldn’t it have been nice to know that wearing masks in public slows Covid down… back in December? Yeah.

Would it have been nice to know that Starbucks has a SUGAR FREE mocha option 15,000 mocha-calories ago? Emphatic yes.

These things fall in the category of, “Something that as soon as you hear it, you wish you would have known it all along!”

So on that note, I’ve decided to try something out here at The Snow Report. I’d like to give you an ex post facto every once in a while. Three things that you’ll be glad to know: One excellent little bit of advice; one post you don’t want to miss; and one fact of great interest. Just in time for the weekend. Although, man… maybe it would have been nice to have known some of this on Monday!

Should be fun. Here’s my first one for ya:

One EXcellent little bit of advice:

• If you’re working on a habit that could benefit from lots of reminders, incorporate it into your computer password. Then you’ll have a constant reminder. GoodPosture2020!

One POST you don’t want to miss:

• How to Set Work Boundaries When It's Hard <— I promise this one will make a big difference, especially if you’re working remotely right now.

One FACT Of great interest:

• You're more likely to get bitten by a person than a shark. In the U.S., there are about 16 shark bites a year… and about 250,000 human bites. About 40,000 of them end up in the hospital. So… I guess now you have another reason to be grateful people are wearing masks outside right now.

Go forth and spread the retroactive knowledge, my friends!

Have a great weekend!

Shane