It’s true, I’m among the horde of cruel people who put the onus for all our Monday growling and grumpiness and grunge on the day itself. Many of us see Monday as the End of All Things Fun, coming as it does on the heels of any sort of weekend respite or recreation we might have enjoyed. I’ve long had that nasty habit of looking in the mirror on a Monday and seeing monstrous presence there, only thinly veiled by the black cloud of my ill-humor.
I think perhaps it’s time to take a little responsibility for the ogrish attitudes myself and reclaim Monday as the Beginning of something fresh and new–by making it that, if need be, by force. The end of one thing is almost inevitably the beginning of another, and if the follower isn’t to my liking, then who’s to change that but me? Isn’t it just possible that in the open spaces between my crotchety complaints and snarky remarks, there could be room for the tiny wedge of reinvention to be driven in for a start? I think I should see what I can accomplish in this. No need to keep glowering at a meanie in the mirror morosely.
One of the first things, I suppose, is to make sure that my Mondays hold something that I look forward to eagerly, something to start my week with a measure of pleasure. So I am taking that step in a small way already: Monday is my day for planning and for clearing the decks. As an inveterate list-maker and lister-of-lists, it’s my day to ‘walk the fences’–and since my Spread (no, dears, my Texas ranch, not my posterior measurements) consists of a house on a typical city-sized lot, it’s not too hard to accomplish that part, at least in temporal terms. But I must do so with eyes wide open for details that need attention so that I know of all the things that require mending, tending or improving. Those light switches that are going to be replaced. (The replacements have already been bought–check!–so it remains only to install them: Note!) The wood handles on the washtub need a preservative oiling. The seed starters are lined up as kits in the garage work area but need to be assembled now. And with the Must Do list is the ever-mutant list of how-abouts: would the window coverings in the reading/TV room be better insulation and easier to open and close if I redo them? Can I put a more comfortable seating angle on that chair by shimming the front legs? Do I have all of the supplies from my shopping list for finishing that little art project? Is the grocery list for Tuesday complete?
There is a surprising amount of satisfaction in not just being able to cross little things off those perpetual lists as Finished but being able, as well, to refine the remaining items so that they are more clear and purposeful and prioritized, and give shape to the rest of a busy week for me. It’s just the way I operate. It also makes me feel a little freer and lighter about what pleasurable things I can do while accomplishing my list-work, how I can distribute things in the short and long term, and when I can break up the flow of Projects with Fun–this latter being an essential thing and not, then, needing to feel like a disruption of the flow but rather a welcome island in the stream. Me, I like a wildly numerous and exotic archipelago of what others might admittedly think purposeless delights in my life’s flow.
So I am on a campaign of making Mondays a favorite day for me by turning my old attitude on its ear. I always had a fondness for forcing a change in point of view by whatever literalistic or foolish means necessary, after all: if I can’t see my artwork with enough objectivity to make intelligent editorial decisions about it, I need to shift how I look at it in order to adjust how I see it. Stand on my head. Come into a dark room and turn on the light on it suddenly. Imagine I’m a six- or ninety-six-year-old looking at it and how I’d describe it.
In the case of Mondays, I’m guessing many a 96-year-old with healthy feelings toward life would simply be delighted at being alive for another one. And six is an age when everything is still new every day, and electric with possibility. Why shouldn’t I adopt both of those attitudes?
For now, I intend to arrange at least one additional Fun Thing to be included in my Mondays on a regular basis, but perhaps a different kind of fun each time, so that I can’t get jaded and lackadaisical about it. Certainly it should have elements of silliness included, because that’s something that never does grow old with me, and perhaps is part of the reason I expect I shan’t grow old myself any too soon. Looking out my window, I see that the bare-branched trees of winter are suddenly covered with black lace, that the intermittent wind gusts have kicked up a ballet of curlicued oak leaves in the corner of the patio, and that the cardinals stopping by for a nibble of grain have somehow taken on a much deeper and brighter hue of red. Is it a change of seasons coming on? Perhaps it’s just that I’m letting the seasons change within me.
Art-Colored Glasses 
I have my computer’s calendar/appointment book set so that Monday shows up as the heading of the leftmost column as the first day of the week, and leaving an unbroken weekend in the two columns at the right.
For those who would like to make Monday more appealing, remember that the name means, after all, Moon Day, and you can think about an attractive full moon in the sky.
Or, since I’m such a sleepaholic, I could just dream of the beautiful full moon all through Monday and not get up until Tuesday . . . Naaah, I’m foggy enough as it is. Your plan is probably better!
I think I must be rather odd as I actually like Mondays … new beginnings and all that. I am so with you on the the surprising amount of satisfaction crossing a few items off a list brings. I have just had the pleasure of drawing a line through some of this week’s to-do items. *Bliss*.
Congratulations! I, ironically perhaps, spent too much time writing my post today and didn’t get nearly as much crossed off my list as I’d hoped! So I’ll just bask in *your* success until tomorrow. đ Cheers!
What a great perspective you have on changing the way we think about the otherwise evil Mondays. And nice drawings as well!
Thank you; I have a feeling it’ll take some training on my part to get more done and in cheerful spirits on Mondays, but it’s certainly worth a try!!
Why is your artwork so interesting? Well, I think for like of a better term… the hatchwork lines all have a mind of their own. Like it! Love what you said at the end about adopting the two attitudes. Very original art…that is what it is…it isn’t a dim copy of something I have seen before!
Thank you kindly, Terri, and welcome here! I can even say that today’s illustrations are fairly distinct from anything *I* usually do, too–they’re three different pen and ink drawings, done at three long-separated times, and all digitally doctored to different extents until the third is somewhat changed from the original drawing and the middle one is almost unrecognizable as the sketch with which I started. I guess I just got in a mood! Maybe I should call the new technique HatchRandomizing or something like that? đ
Gorgeous writing my dear! And your drawings . . . well you know I have a fondness for the bizarre ones. And the tree is delightful!
Of *course* I know of your fondness for the bizarre ones! You married me, didn’t you??
I’m not positive, but I think I may have done the tree sketch originally when I was working on the design for Jim and Judy’s wedding invite. đ
What a brilliant post – not only the writing, which is always, yes always, brilliant – but the Wisdom that fills it too. So very many things to comment on here, but I’m racing a bit so can’t. So only two things – 1) the notion of being a six or a (healthy) ninety-six year old as you approach the day, how could you ever go wrong? I love it and hope to remember it – and to practice it very well the next time I grumble. and 2) the Artist’s Way – have you read it? Your idea of taking yourself out for something different and FUN every Monday is what she would have called a date with an artist, an essential ingredient to a balanced, productive, artistic and joy-full life.
The author recommended that date occur once a week – but you already saw your way to the same conclusion! And what better way than turning blue Mondays on their heads?
Yes, I have my copy of The Artist’s Way here, too. đ I ought to revisit it, since it’s been ages and ages; maybe it was there that the seed of weekly self-play-dates was planted in me and I was just slow in the germination! I’m glad you find something useful in it, too, my dear.
Fancy that! As I am stuck today without a car (it is in the shop – Gad!) I found myself getting a few things done that I have been putting off making this a very productive Monday. Scary Monday the Monster there by the way.
I’d much rather get things done by intent than by enforcement (especially that of a hospitalized car!), but I’ll admit I’m just happy to get things done however it happens. đ
That’s a nice post! Inspiring, and you’re totally right too. All the best with your mission! And I agree – ticking stuff off lists can be really edifying đ Happy Monday.
Sometimes the list just ticks *me* off and sometimes I get to tick things off the list. đ Here’s to more of the latter and less of the former! May *all* your Mondays be happy!
A brilliant idea and an amazing method to turn the worst day into the best day. I, myself, would be a happy soul if I could adopt a similar take in life and turn my Mondays into days I enjoy. I’m a weak soul, however, and it would take a grand amount of fine-tuning to change my views on the despicableness of Monday.
Maybe with time.
Wonderful post!
Remember that you’re talking to a geezer. It did take me a while to embrace the idea of taking the active stance against Monday blues, probably not least of all because I’m such a lazy one by nature! But I do find that the idea of deliberately scheduling in one additional purely fun thing–*whatever* it is–at least once a week makes quite a difference in my attitude in general. It doesn’t have to be splashy or cost me anything, just be something that I look forward to genuinely, and it seems to help quite a lot. Play therapy, if you will!
It is all about attitude. I wrote this poem BEFORE I retired, or else it would be just a retired person telling others to do what he never did. đ I’ll post the link here. Maybe it was posted before you discovered my blog and I discovered yours. http://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/monday-by-dennis-lange/
Yes, I think I’d missed this one! But it’s true, it’s *all* about attitude. I’m a slow learner, but I do learn. đ
I am ever the optimist, except for when I am pessimistic, and I really do consider Monday a beautiful slate – you have a whole NEW week full of possibilities! I love Monday! And I love that you are letting your seasons change! xxoo and another hug for good measure!
Thank you for the hugs, the reassurance, and the knowledge that Monday can be a great start to the week! Hugs right back atcha!
First of all, I want you to know that I found the first illustration rather loveable. He looks like a monster one could feel comfortable with. In my country, Monday is the second day of the week, as our weekend is Friday and Saturday, and so Monday is usually a day in which a lot of good work is done. And when reading how youâve organized the day, I canât help noticing how very different we are⌠but that is part of the pleasure, I think; finding common tastes, and common humor with people different from us. Maybe if you initiated the day by drawing, or taking a long walk, you might enjoy both the anticipation and the occupation. But Iâm sure you know what works for you. And since it is already Tuesday, no point in wishing you a good Monday⌠but I do wish you a very good week ahead!
Thank you, my friend, and I hope your week–already in its midst–is going beautifully. I agree that one of the very best things is to *begin* with those activities that give us pleasure and fulfillment, and I am determined to work at that daily, not just for Mondays, because I suspect it will be something of a paradigm shift toward the better for me altogether. Thank you always for your insights!
Nicw drawing with the trees. I love it…. This is a very inspiring post. Now i am beginning to “like” mondays. …. But still i “love” weekends!!!!!
If I ever figure out how to make every day a weekend day, I’ll let you know, but in the meantime if more of us figure out how to enjoy the weekdays it’ll make them *seem* more positive anyway! I’m glad you like the tree drawing. I am a big fan of trees in all their beauty, whether simple or complex, in full leaf or bloom or with bare branches.
I love your perspective, Kathryn, I may include some of it with my attitude, each time the alarm clock goes off on a Monday morning. I do grumble some, honestly admitting, only because the weekends are so cherished. However, I’ll pick up a pair of those rose colored glasses and start seeing Mondays in a new light! Hugs and smiles! đ
Somehow I think you would look especially beautiful in rose-colored glasses, but mainly because they would seem so well suited to the beauty I know you to be! đ
xoxoxo!
“Perhaps itâs just that Iâm letting the seasons change within me.”. Oh boy, do I love that sentence! You are right—we do need to do that. I am in awe of your drawings. You really identified how I had (unconciously) looking at Monday. Thanks for the new perspective on that. I will try to do the same. I would love to form that new attitude/outlook.
Why then, we’ll work on that perspective shift together. I think a task is always easier to commit to and accomplish when done in good company, and I’d guess it’s even more true when the task has a pleasurable and desirable end-product as its goal. Here we go!
There was a time, in my misspent youth, when I dreaded Monday like Europe the Plague. But that was then. Now, they do not bother me in the slightest. Having friends who work a variety of shifts/days and a couple others who, like myself, no longer work, means that we can do things together anytime, not just on Saturday & Sunday. ANd if all else fails, I’ll take Max to the dog park or beach for a couple hours of canine fun.
You are using your freedom from work wisely, Grasshopper! I’m trying to work out the whole act-retired-while-working routine for my guy, primarily, since he keeps pretty long hours. Any time I can squeeze in some respite or fun stuff for him it’s going to be better, I know!
I am always still surprised when I find people that are multi-talented, such as yourself, who can write with beauty and/or a comical sense of timing, or can take photographs that are simple and quiet, or that are alive with complexity, or who can sketch and draw in a way that either pulls the viewer in, or pushes them away. It isn’t that I’m not aware that such people exist, and that I don’t have a healthy appreciation for their talents, and how they have nurtured them and allowed these talents to grow. I think the surprise comes from knowing that we all have our own versions of multiplicity, and yet we often choose to only move in one direction. I absolutely adore it when you share different facets of your many gifts.
I really was listening to your message today, but quite honestly, I was a bit distracted by your third sketch. I wanted to climb inside it, and rest for a bit. I find it incredibly pleasing to my eye, and yet I can’t begin to tell you why, (pardon the accidental rhyme). I only know that I could keep looking at it indefinitely, and still find something to discover.
This is one of those times that I could be envious,
but I prefer to simply be grateful. So, thanks.
Very sweetly said indeed, my friend, and I am grateful for your words and your contemplation of my work! As I’m greatly attracted to trees, I share your ability to be lost in the image of them (visual or merely imagined) and be comforted by them somehow. I’m glad you like this one! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness!
I haven’t quite reached the place of looking forward to Mondays, but when I wake up and know I have to get ready to go to school, I remind myself of what a blessing it is to have a job. Especially in this economy, and to have a job that I enjoy very much, working with people I like. Once I’m in the classroom I’m thankful. But the following Monday, I’ll have to go through all of that again. đ
There are definitely some unique challenges to Mondays for teachers. I’ve been there. I admire you immensely!
I love this idea of planning something good for Mondays. I do tend to blame the day itself but now I may look at it a bit differently.
If I could bake like you, I’m sure my Mondays would simply have to start with something ridiculously delicious, and that would get me off to the best start possible!