Learning How To Take a Day Off

It’s the first Monday of the new year… Is it any different than last year’s last Monday? Has something magical happened to make this a better day than the last? Or even yesterday? Not really. I was reminded yesterday as a phrase just let itself be known, and it was suspiciously sounding like I had said it!

“Is it Friday yet?”

Yes. I have some tendencies to consider one day better than another. I heard John Denver say, “Far out!” so many times in the ’70s. He later confessed he was trying to break himself of that habitual phrase. But he owned it!

I guess I should own mine… Is it Friday yet?

For decades, this was my question on every day of the workweek. Why? For the most part, we always looked forward to our “Friday”. You know, that last workday before your time off. Now, I’ve had shifts and schedules where my “Friday” was other days of the week. Still, the phrase worked because we always looked for some time off. Time down. Relaxation. Or getting to do something we enjoy. Even nothing!

Last night, I declared to my bride. “From now on, I’m taking Monday’s off!” When you are bi-vocational, and younger with abundant energy, you can work or play seven days a week! Not me. Not any longer! Saturday gets turned upside down with home building projects, day trips, planning for Sunday, or other such activities. Monday, that first workday of a new week? It often carried the headache of things left undone on Friday. Equally, it was challenged to be profitable, you know, “Blue Monday”. It depended on how you spent your weekend.

Here I Am On Monday

Here I am on Monday trying to figure out what an “off day” looks like. My bride’s been retired nearly a year, and she’s slipped into the mode so easily. Not me. I’m not retired and may never retire. Who knows. Still, I would like to have a day off. My day. Just for me. Do what I want. When I want. How I want.

What does that look like? I’m not sure. (chuckle…)

I still get up early, with morning routines that beckon. Perhaps I should maintain them because they are too hard to change. They are important to me. Prayer. Devotion. Scripture. Coffee. Writing…

Right now, I’m in my office enjoying some writing time. This has been happening for over 10 years and I feel lost if I don’t find the time for it. Even traveling. I’ve sat in hotel lobbies, back-water coffee bars, and even on park benches. I enjoy putting words to a screen – you do understand that’s modern writing, right? As the words unfold before me I can edit, restate, undo, make changes, or chuck it all and start over.

Writing Verbosely

James Michener was famous for his sagas and stories that covered continents, centuries, and history. He did not publish his first book till he was 40, and it won awards. Maybe you’ve heard of it, “Tales of the South Pacific“. With research teams, assistants, and his trust old-fashioned typewriter, he wrote, and wrote, and wrote some more. 1,000 page books! One after the other!

The Torah (Books of Moses) was his collection of words that documented the beginning, and through the ending of his life as Israel prepared to enter the promised land. I’m sure he had help, as did Michener. At the same time, he probably did not start until he was ancient! Imagine his cautious recording of history, one character at a time, not making mistakes and getting a “do over”.

I’m not headed that way. But I do enjoy penning some words that follow the theme, “Making sense of life, one blog at a time.” This is where I take what has been churning in my mind and spirit and attempt to make some sense of it all. Will it be my final take on the subject? No. That’s the beauty of writing it down. I know where I’ve been with the subject matter, and “As The World Turns” I can adapt and restate.

I Remember The ’50s

I’m not sure what makes me remember this, but I do remember the ’50s. And, the ’60s for that matter. If you were in a certain field of work, and we may use the word “professional”, then Saturday included going into the office. More casual than Monday through Friday, but still a requirement. Family activities would be in the afternoon, but work beckoned the morning.

At our home, Saturday morning was replicated in similar fashion. Chores until noon – and that often meant beating the rugs free of dust, washing baseboards, hosing down windows and screens, moving plants just planted last week to a new location this week… I vowed this would never be the norm for my kids. You would have to ask them what they remember Saturday being, but I’m sure it had nothing to do with chores!

In the modern world of “working from home,” we have blurred the lines separating work and family. Technology is taking us into realms we never considered in my youth. Distractions can be huge!

A recent Sunday morning, and many Sunday’s of my past, included getting up extra early and polishing my sermon. Since I am a morning person, this makes more sense than doing it late the night before. I have found that dedication to preparing during the week can never replace a middle of the night cutting floor. Snip here. Trash there. Focus on this, and not that. Trim 8 pages down to 3… I may spend a week working on the thought, but those hours before dawn are some of my best “working” hours.

Here’s My First Official Monday Off

A quarter of a century ago, a young lady told me she wanted to marry a preacher. They could sleep till noon every day, and only have to work a little. Hmmm… Do you know any preachers that would agree to this. Our job is never done, and we struggle with disconnecting.

It’s nearing 10 am. I’ve been up for 4 hours, doing my normal morning routine. That includes writing about it. In a few minutes I will be up and out the door of my office, hopefully to go enjoy the day.

What will I do? Not sure. Will I do some home chores, and there are many on my list? I certainly hope not! (while sounding like Stan and Oliver)…

Carpe Diem!

Wait. What does that mean? Carpe Diem simply means to seize the day, but behind the scenes it encourages you to not think about the future. Well… That will be hard to do.