Yesterday was a month long (and today’s starting that way). A month of Mondays. A tiring, irritating, exhausting month of Mondays. And I’m not excited about how I’ve conducted myself on this ongoing month of Mondays.
We all have days like that. And we all just plow through them to the end and collapse in mindless television, alcohol, or whatever other vice or virtue we go to when these things happen.
And do it again tomorrow.
All of that said, I haven’t had many month-of-Monday days over the last year and a half. I haven’t bitten anyone’s head off (literally or figuratively). And I have literally done harm to anyone (Facebook bans notwithstanding).
The harsh, judgmental side of me says, “So what? Big deal.”
The side that’s trying to be better says it is a big deal. Everyone throws one in the stands now and again. Everyone five-putts. Everyone misses a free throw. Everyone uses too many sports metaphors in a blog post.
I read a baseball book once where a successful player–I don’t remember who–talked a lot about turning the page. We got shelled today, so turn the page. I went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts (known as the golden sombrero), so turn the page.
Turning the page is a key skillset. It’s important in normal times. It’s infinitely more important in the ongoing disaster movie we’ve endured for a year and a half of Mondays.
It’s not okay to make someone’s day harder or to vent your frustration on someone with bigger problems.
But it’s gonna happen. So apologize. Go to sleep. Wake up to a new opportunity tomorrow.
Learning to do that begins with accepting responsibility but forgiving yourself. Leaving yesterday’s dumpster fire there and walking into today with the clearest mind you can muster.
It’s really hard work. But it is a big deal. For you and for other people.
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