Spring Break
Column: Solemnness on a Sunday morning
Sam Fisher/Columnist
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Opinions
As we sit on the verge of the school year's final weekend, the two things on most people's minds are probably partying and the imminent release from the responsibilities of school, in that order.
Weekends start out with a bang and often end in a whimper.
Sundays are the most peculiar day of the week.
On paper, it sounds great: No class.
The reality isn't as pleasant.
Sometimes, the entire day is simply a time to finish the work you didn't dare do on Friday or Saturday. Sometimes it's taken up by one long and often unintentional nap.
I often wake up to the sobering thought that the carefree hedonism of the previous two days is over, and the work week will soon begin.
Sundays are the transitional day where one must prepare to re-enter the world of daily commitments and responsibilities.
We never actually leave that world, but the weekend is more fun when we mentally checkout, focusing on blowing off steam and having a good time.
Sundays also seem to be the day most likely to include reflection, whether we intend to or not.
What accounts for the solemn and contemplative tone of Sundays?
For one thing, Sundays are the end of a good thing, the weekend, and that loss of temporary freedom is, like all losses, something that invites reflection.
By reflection, I don't just mean recounting the weekend's events but considering what the weekend meant.
Did it all add up to give you a feeling of optimism for the week ahead, and life in general?
Did it add up to make you discouraged and less motivated about your goals?
Was it so similar to other weekends that you quickly forgot what even happened in the blur of it all?
How about all three and none of the above?
If you wake up in a post-binge-drinking haze of all-over pain, you'll likely reflect on why you continually subject your liver to such cruel and unusual punishment.
Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, I'll sit around bored and question the path my life is taking.
I think about all the grade school exercises where the teacher told us to imagine ourselves in five, 10, 20 years.
Am I where I want to be?
Maybe. Maybe not.
The only thing you can do is roll with what life gives you. Sometimes the weekend festivities are so great, not even a hangover can wipe the smile off your face.
Whether you make exciting new friends or just have a good time with existing ones, occasionally a weekend comes together to become greater than the sum of its parts.
Even though another long week is rapidly approaching, on that Sunday, it doesn't matter.
Sam Fisher is a junior geography major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
Weekends start out with a bang and often end in a whimper.
Sundays are the most peculiar day of the week.
On paper, it sounds great: No class.
The reality isn't as pleasant.
Sometimes, the entire day is simply a time to finish the work you didn't dare do on Friday or Saturday. Sometimes it's taken up by one long and often unintentional nap.
I often wake up to the sobering thought that the carefree hedonism of the previous two days is over, and the work week will soon begin.
Sundays are the transitional day where one must prepare to re-enter the world of daily commitments and responsibilities.
We never actually leave that world, but the weekend is more fun when we mentally checkout, focusing on blowing off steam and having a good time.
Sundays also seem to be the day most likely to include reflection, whether we intend to or not.
What accounts for the solemn and contemplative tone of Sundays?
For one thing, Sundays are the end of a good thing, the weekend, and that loss of temporary freedom is, like all losses, something that invites reflection.
By reflection, I don't just mean recounting the weekend's events but considering what the weekend meant.
Did it all add up to give you a feeling of optimism for the week ahead, and life in general?
Did it add up to make you discouraged and less motivated about your goals?
Was it so similar to other weekends that you quickly forgot what even happened in the blur of it all?
How about all three and none of the above?
If you wake up in a post-binge-drinking haze of all-over pain, you'll likely reflect on why you continually subject your liver to such cruel and unusual punishment.
Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, I'll sit around bored and question the path my life is taking.
I think about all the grade school exercises where the teacher told us to imagine ourselves in five, 10, 20 years.
Am I where I want to be?
Maybe. Maybe not.
The only thing you can do is roll with what life gives you. Sometimes the weekend festivities are so great, not even a hangover can wipe the smile off your face.
Whether you make exciting new friends or just have a good time with existing ones, occasionally a weekend comes together to become greater than the sum of its parts.
Even though another long week is rapidly approaching, on that Sunday, it doesn't matter.
Sam Fisher is a junior geography major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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