Some people wait until the beginning of a new year to attempt to make changes in their lives. Picking up better habits, organizing time better, rekindling lost friendships, or making amends for past mistakes are all things people attempt to do to temporarily improve the quality of their lives. A layman would call this “getting your shit together,” and it is something we should all do. My question is, why does this life cleanup process occur just once a year? Personally, I feel like I go through a micro version of this absurdity at least once a week. Every Friday is New Years Eve, and the following Monday is New Years Day and there are priorities to get in check and sins to atone for, every week.
As a student first and foremost, the majority of my week is spent attending to this unpaid occupation. Monday through Friday is dedicated to the quest for knowledge. Lecture halls and computer screens, with the occasional and essential breaks to eat, relax, and sleep. Friday and Saturday nights allow for a recess from the overbearing annoyance of responsibility. Our identities as productive members of society are forgotten, (and often drowned), in exchange for a much simpler and easily contented human being. One that does not care that twelve pages on the intricacies of local politics is due to be handed in on Monday morning. One that forgets to eat the entire day only to end up at McDonalds at three in the morning. One that sleeps as late as hunger will physically allow. This person does not care.
This lack of care, however, allows, and even helps, for this person to resume “giving a shit” on Monday morning. Not caring is similar to caring in that they both become boring. It is this contrast that is necessary. Becoming a person again Monday morning is easier after a brief trip away from the burden.
Thus Sunday becomes the transitional day. A time to start thinking about the responsibilities we all have, completion of which allow us to be considered constructive, civilized human beings. The key is to understand the difference between the two sides of our lives. Too much time spent in the carefree, abstract side of life and people will start to characterize you as maybe a “bum,” “vagabond”, or even “gypsy” or “wino.” The other side is equally frightening. Some might say “working stiff,” “square,” or what have you, about the seemingly soulless nine-to-fivers who derive little pleasure from their rhythmic and scheduled lives. Like most things, balance is crucial. Lose yourself Friday so you can be found on Monday. Be the gypsy and the square.
