No Garfield Mondays

Let me start by saying that I have always been a Garfield fan. I just love that cat and all other character that come with him (except Nermal, that cat's an idiot show-off!).

However, despite my love of the daily comic strip, I think ultimately Garfield's bad for someone who's trying to start a new week on the right foot. It's just bad juju to start your Monday saying you hate it. Plus it tastes of defeat and personal sabotage, doesn't it?

Yes, it's amusing to make fun of things like hating going to work, laziness, binge-eating and dog-kicking, but I'm afraid that on some (very real) level laughing at it just makes all those flaws more acceptable when really it shouldn't. I believe a bit of humour towards your shortcomings is important for a sane mind and healthy personal relationship with oneself, but that should never serve as an excuse or delay to change and improvement.

And how can you expect to have a wonderful week when the first thing you do is groan at its first day? To dismiss it outright as bad and horrible because it means you have to go to work instead of lazying about all day. What about all the other great things about it like your first cup of coffee or listening to your favourite music on the way to work? What if we started the week being grateful and happy for the small things that make every day (even Mondays) great? And what if we could even muster a bit of hope towards of all the great things that may be? Wouldn't that be something?

Maybe - just maybe - this is just me being extra sensitive due to the fact that I've been out of a job for almost two months and feel an ever increasing need to surround myself with positive thoughts and thus at this point in my life I can't exactly see Garfield as a friend. Not on Mondays at least. Because I need good weeks ahead. And it starts right here in my head.

So join me - close your eyes and take a breath. Now focus on one good thing in your life right now and on all other wonderful things to happen this week. And... go!