I Actually Like Mondays

I was walking my dog last Monday morning and one of my neighbors had just pulled into their driveway. They left their car running and jogged up to their door, quickly greeting me in the process. Hello.

I responded and smiled. Hello, how are you?

The day is mostly grey, but there is a small peek of blue skies and the temperature is in the low 40s. I only need a light jacket, a hat and a thin pair of gloves to be comfortable outside this morning. It’s January in Northeast Ohio, so it’s a lovely day for this time of year.

My neighbor responds, wearing a sardonic smile. Mondays suck, you know that. He unlocks the front door to his house and is about to go inside.

I smile, shrug and say – at least it’s warm today.

Pretty warm, he replies. And that’s where our conversation ends. My dog and I are both past his house on the sidewalk, and he has closed the door behind him. The whole exchange took maybe 15 seconds, but my brow is furrowed for the next several houses. I think about the brief encounter for the next few minutes, a little sad for my neighbor that he seems to dread at least one of his seven days every week.

You see, I actually like Mondays.

I like the fresh start feeling they give me. Each Monday feels like a new chance to keep building on the things you are doing well, but also a clean slate to try again where you keep coming up short. You can make the same choice to be a better version of you any day [or hour] of the week – it doesn’t have to be on a Monday. But, I tend to show up better for myself when there is a Monday involved, so it might be my favorite day of the week.

About halfway through our walk, I shrug and speak to my dog. Hey Bert. He looks over his shoulder at me, smiling. I actually like Mondays, don’t you? My dog looks forward and sniffs the air deeply. I imagine he is taking in the simple joys in the world and we both walk on.