Another Monday

Today is one of those days where I genuinely don’t know what to write about, so I’m just going to put things down as they come to mind for the next half hour or so. I spent quite a bit of time this past weekend finishing up part five of the Japan Escape photo stories, so please check that out if you haven’t yet the chance. I am somewhat ashamed to say it’s taken nearly three months since I’ve returned from the trip to finish writing about it; it’s a lot of work, but honestly I could’ve done it faster and moved on to other things.

The common person have little idea how time consuming it is to put together pictures and words into one coherent story. As a person who cares about photography, the process of editing the pictures alone can take a huge amount of time. Then there’s the writing portion, the part where I describe what’s going on in those photos, and attempt to weave up something coherent and interesting (you can tell me if it isn’t.) It takes about eight to ten hours combined to produce one photo stories article; in contrast the finished piece can be read in around 10 minutes.

It’s like spending two hours cooking an elaborate dinner, only for it to be wolfed down in 15 minutes.

Let’s be clear: I am not lamenting this situation at all. The contents of this website is something I enjoy putting together, and even if there weren’t a single person out there reading my stuff, I’d be perfectly fine with it, and would still continue to put in the many hours required to produce more. I’m merely pointing out the utter disparity between time spent consuming content and the time it takes to make the content; it’s easy to forget or not realize how much goes into making what seemingly is not a lot. Next time maybe think about this before you badger your favorite Youtube channel why they haven’t upload any new videos recently.

I have tremendous respect for freelancers and creatives putting in the work, especially those who’ve chosen to follow their passion full-time. forgoing the comfort and security of a steady 9-5 paycheck. Of course, passion alone doesn’t pay the bills, and it’s tough out there to monetize to sustainable level. The people making tremendous bank from Youtube are the outliers, not the mean. I make sure to support a few of my own favorites on Patreon, or I actually buy the stuff they make.

Because some day - and that day may never come - I may need those favors returned towards me.

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Case of the Mondays

Mondays.

Nobody likes them, correct? Given a gun to my head I’d for sure tell you I don’t much like Mondays either. That creeping feeling of despair you start to feel by Sunday evening; the work week is straight ahead, and that slight piece of weekend bliss will soon be done and gone. We’ve all experience it.

I’m beginning to think that if I’m heading into the week dreading Monday like the plague, I’ve already lost. 

What does the dread and thoughts that go along with it accomplish? Nothing supportive that’s for sure. It sure doesn’t make me want to go to sleep at a proper time. When that alarm clock announces its presence on Monday morning, it doesn’t make me want to escape those cozy sheets with haste. When I’m in the car driving towards work, the dread doesn’t make me look forward to the work-week with good vibes - rather I’m already impatiently counting down the minutes towards end of day Friday.   

How productive is that? 

What if I am actually happy and excited about Mondays? What if the notion of the work-week brings me the same joy and anticipation as the prospects of an entertainment-filled weekend? Wouldn’t I have a better disposition at work and whatever output be enhanced? You don’t have to particularly like you job, but since societal framework predicates that adults ought to have gainful employment, the job is a static reality: how you feel about it is on you alone. So instead of choosing dread, a negative reaction, why not view it in a positive light, even if you have to Jedi mind-trick yourself to achieve it. 

These days, I quite like Mondays. On Sunday evenings I anticipate with a sense of duty, and Monday mornings I jump out of bed ready to handle it all. Some weekends are more difficult that others, but overall this mental practice/exercise have helped my general psyche towards the work-week tremendously.