Coming from a long line of farmers, I inherited responsibility and drive to stay busy. I developed a strong work ethic at a young age. Every adult I knew during those formative years complained there wasn’t enough time in the day to finish their chores. From planting the gardens, to hanging out the wash and ironing the laundry, the list of chores went on and on.
At school, my teachers struggled, as well. They spent hours standing in front of the mimeograph machine, turning the handle by hand to create copies from a stencil. As a beginning teacher in 1996, I learned to use this type of machine. Websites with adorably cute worksheets to print off by the hundreds weren’t available. Everything was done manually, down to the sharpening sharpening of wooden pencils.
In the 1900’s, no such thing as continuous entertainment existed, with television broadcasting limited to certain hours. There were three stations in my town, those being ABC, NBC, and CBS, none offering 24/7 news feed. Beginning at 6 am, the Pledge of Allegiance was followed by the National Anthem. Next came the news, and throughout the day some addictive and poorly acted shows called Soap Operas played on. Long after I’d been sent to bed, Taps played to end the day.
With no cellphones, a call in the night meant there was a real problem. A relative had become sick or a neighbor needed help gathering up some loose cows. Life was peaceful without listening devices glowing with their blue-light screens.
Growing up in those quiet days, Turning off the day was easier. “Give it to God, and Go to Sleep”. Finishing her day with a crossword puzzle or good book at the kitchen table, my mother would wait for my dad to come in after last minute chores.
Today, downtime is harder to find. Here at Winterpast, we have complete connection to the business of life. We can shop 24/7 on Amazon for anything we might possibly need in life. Today, the news reported that Gen-Z’ers are buying tiny homes to place in their parent’s back yards. Oy. Vey. You’ve got to love Amazon. Free shipping for an entire house!
Technology has made it easier to accomplish more in a day. Turbo Tax takes the guesswork out of taxes with artificial intelligence asking all the important questions. Our printer scans and faxes wirelessly. Answering machines are built right into our phones , along with a camera to capture every adorable moment in life.
After our Covid quarantine, many people now work at home. No more expensive clothing and lunch dates. People could work in their pajamas from 8 to 5, avoiding the subway or crowded freeway. Just roll out of bed and right into work mode. Now, the safest place one could unwind doubles as the office. Instead of working 5 days a week, some are now on call 24/7. This sets the stage for major burnout after a few years. Possessions one has worked to own create a giant prison from which there is no escape.
In retirement, HHH and I have only found one minor problem. Employed for decades, we were plenty busy from Monday through Friday. Come the weekend, the time was ours to enjoy. Now retired, every day is the same. It’s important to purposely plan a portion of each day for rest and relaxation. As Auntie TJ reminds us all, laziness is an artform that must be practiced to perfection.
As this weekend unfolds, remember that most offices and banks close Friday at 5pm. They don’t open until Monday morning. Even the IRS sleeps on the weekend. Take time away from worry to rest your brain. Remember, for peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe.
Have a great weekend! I’ll be back Monday!