By Fred Standil
Student Services Advisor at Herzing College
Welcome to 2023. The passage of time reminds us that life is fragile and unpredictable. Mental health experts caution that while there are always things going on that are troubling, we must all strive to stay in the moment and appreciate what we have.
This is easier said than done. The most well-adjusted (whatever that means) of us are human and no amount of deliberate thinking can make us immune from the challenges of the world. In fact, our capacity to show empathy demands that we respect and honour those who are adversely affected by forces outside of their control. Otherwise, we would be indistinguishable from robots.
In keeping with this theme, much of the world seems to have labelled the days of the workweek to better cope with the demands placed on us. Monday, for instance, has always been deemed problematic. “I’m OK for a Monday, I guess,” has always given me pause to think. Need we only define the start of the week as dark and depressing? I think not.
Tuesday, on the other hand, is the one day that seems to have been spared the typical stereotypes that mark the rest of the week. Many years ago, I hopped on board the “hump day” portrayal of Wednesdays. This, of course, is geared to energizing us to get our second wind as we pass this invisible bridge to the more benign day known as Thursday. By then, countless people have been known to recite the mantra that it is “practically the weekend.”
Need I point out the anxious wish to be done with Friday? “Thank God it’s Friday” is almost as common as “have a good day.”
What does this have to do with mindfulness, presenteeism, or staying in the moment? It is simply this: Do not let cliches and common stereotypes govern how you feel about or approach the weeks and months ahead.
I believe that we must take control of our time on planet Earth and make the most of it. Life is difficult enough and it has plenty of ups and downs.
Many of us live by the adage that we will accomplish any number of things when the spirit moves us. But I urge you to grab time by the throat and make the best of it as often as you can.
Remember: No matter how difficult things may be for you at any given moment, tomorrow is a new day.
Top of the year to you!
