“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear Universe,
For a while this has been one of my favorite quotes. It used to hang next to the door of my classroom at my former job. I kept it there so I would see it every day as I walked out. It was a reminder to let the day go.
But sometimes I think you need a release to feel like the day is over, something to look forward to before getting in bed and starting again the next day.
For me, it’s television. Yes, I’m somewhat of a T.V junkie. If there’s one thing I love about the fall it’s the return of some of my favorite shows.
Monday: Well, usually I end up watching The Voice: good entertainment
Tuesday: Parenthood: always a tearjerker
Wednesday: I end up watching the X factor: it sucks you in
Thursday: Grey’s Anatomy: also a tearjerker
Friday: Something from the DVR or a movie
Saturday: The same
Sunday: OWN’s Super Soul Sunday! And at night Revenge: a guilty pleasure, Dexter: my longtime obsession and Homeland: my newest obsession (thank you, DVR)
I know it may seem trivial to thank you, Universe, for entertaining television shows, but it’s not to me.
Television is one of my escapes. So is reading, meditating, working out or grabbing a drink with a friend, but after a long day at work sometimes all I want to do is get home and zone out to see what dramas my favorite characters are getting into. And depending on the show I can find myself laughing or crying right along with the actors.
Those writers really know what they are doing.
Besides, all this television watching has an added benefit. Since I teach a Pop Culture themed class in the spring I can chalk this all up to “research.” I have to stay up on the times.
But I do think there’s an importance to my routine. Not to watch television per say, but to have a quick timeout from life. I think everyone needs a harmless escape—a mental break from all the stresses, responsibilities, concerns, conflicts, bills and everyday stuff that we all deal with. It’s part of maintaining that balance we need—the balance I am constantly working at.
So “finish the day and be done with it,” but first take a moment or an hour for you. Indulge a little. It’s okay. Put the worries of the day aside and let your mind and body take a rest.
That way you are refreshed for the next day’s episodes—yours and the ones on television.
Thank you,
A
