me first Monday to freeform Friday

Admittedly, I have a great job. I don't mean to say that my job would be great for everyone; what I do mean is that my job is great for me as of today: we just won’t be defeated Wednesday. I realize, however, that what makes my job great is the flexible routine it affords and the quasi-control I have over my work, that nobody looks over my shoulder and that I am trusted with important projects without constant supervision. I don’t shave, I wear jeans to work, and I can check Facebook frequently. But in an attempt at full disclosure and complete honesty with myself, I realize what my job really comes down to.

I push paper. Everyday is a contest against both myself and my coworkers to see how fast I can get through my ‘pile.’ My pile is just that - a basket on the corner of my desk with files and documents and each piece of pile has a post-it note with very sloppy writing and very specific instructions. If that is the case, then I can get rid of the file fast - maybe on the same day I received it. Other times, however, the post-it note will simply state a ‘goal’ for the file - “This needs to add up differently - make it happen.” - kinda thing. And it is this type of instruction that will keep the file on my desk for weeks, and even months. It will bog down my progress with other quicker files, and I will learn to resent the one file that is taking me on a wild goose chase and making me call people up and down the state trying to find the answer to my question. And mind you, I always know the answer to my question. My job involves making sure the people who also know the answers agree with me. That’s the arrogance of lawyers.

This is everyday, and everyday has a tendency to look and feel like any other day. The working day, by itself, has nothing to distinguish it between the other working days. So I must help it standout - not for any sympathy to the intrinsic monotony of the day itself. Mostly for me, so that every day, despite looking and feeling the same as the day before, at least seems like it has a different purpose.

And so I began to name my days. Me First Monday, my pick between Today is Tuesday, Take on Me Tuesday, and recently, Trifflin’ Tuesday, We Just Won’t be Defeated Wednesday, Throw down Thursday, Tap that Thursday, and This is Thursday, and my favorite, Freeform Friday.

The irony of this exercise is that I realize that now I cannot distinguish between this week’s me first Monday and any one of last month’s me first Mondays. Sometimes this will bother me enough and I will strain my creative energies to make another alliteration that may be fitting for that day. Every now and again I will be especially proud of the name I gave my day and it really will make a difference. On Sunday, I decided to call this week’s Tuesday ‘Trifflin’ Tuesday.” Yesterday, when I tried on Trifflin’ Tuesday for the first time, I really did notice a small perk in my step.

Some of these are not original - they are references to my favorite radio show which makes me smile. Smiling is important in the morning, and they seem to fit anyway. So I decided early that I would shamelessly keep them.

Today is We Just Won’t be Defeated Wednesday. However, it is now 10:30 in the morning and I’m losing to my pile badly.