Days of the week

<Pre-post note>Taking a break from talking about my former romantic experiences, and formally abandoning my attempt to blog every day.</Pre-post note>


What I've noticed in my short period of time working as a professional is how important the day of the week is. This is definitely also true in K-12 education, and even to some degree in college, but it is never more apparent than in the professional world. What I don't remember from school is something very conspicuous that almost everyone – including (especially?) me – does: when you ask them how they are, they will give you a generic descriptor, and follow it up with what day it is.

"How are you?"
"Oh, fine. You know, for a Tuesday."
"Ah, yeah. Tuesday. The day that should be Friday."

"How's it going?"
"Pretty well. It's Sunday, so I'm enjoying it, but not looking forward to the week."
"Gotta just live in the moment, Greg."
"Shut the fuck up, Hank."

This appears on one level problematic, as our mood seems fundamentally tied to the day of the week, a meaningless label specifying a day's position in a recurring set of arbitrary length. Its power only comes from our cultural decision that "business days" are Monday through Friday, and, at least here in America, your job is – for better or worse (definitely worse) – the fulcrum of your emotional well-being. Clearly, not the healthiest of situations.

However, there is a bright side to this. You and every other professional within a reasonable longitudinal distance are on the same day of the week. Take another look at that first conversation I made up above. That's solidarity, which is unfortunately rare in the professional world. I work in Client Services. Dealing with clients who are upset with us is a daily business. Often, we are equally frustrated with our clients. But when you get on that phone, you ask them how they are, and they say it's Friday, and you immediately have common ground. Everyone knows Friday means relief and anticipation. As loose as it is, you've created a connection.

This is – I think – why we say what day it is when we are asked how we are. It's the easiest way to evoke some amount of empathy, because every professional knows and is likely currently feeling the mood of the day. Even though we're all on an unhealthy roller coaster of emotion week-to-week, we're all more or less on that same roller coaster. At the end of the day, connection with fellow humans outweighs the arbitrary governance of our moods.

Also at the end of the day, I'm getting started on my weekend. Because it's Friday.

Hell. Yes.