Each week, the ritual repeats. The Sunday sun marches across the sky eventually signaling the end of the day. Sunday evening sounds the death knell for another weekend and hangs a lantern in the window to warn of Monday’s pending arrival. Since the dawn of the modern work week, Monday has become the dreaded reminder that one’s life cannot be one-hundred percent leisure, that there are at least five days laying ahead that could usher in stress, responsibilities, and problems that did not exist a few days before. It, Monday, is a despised day that draws the working class’ ire and ridicule. What if, however, Monday was not the worst day of the week? What if Monday was simply the whipping boy that boldly accepted its lot and bravely stood in the face of its loathsome reputation week after week? What if Tuesday was actually the day everyone should hope to avoid, and avoid it not because it’s the pseudo-Monday after a three-day weekend but rather because it’s the true villain in life’s drama?

Think about this: sure, crap can happen on Monday though you do not have to really start dealing with it until Tuesday. Pardon the language, but shit hits the fan on Monday and falls on Tuesday. I suppose the same could be said for any day of the week, yet Tuesday is truly the first day of the week where a person is functional enough to understand what the hell happened on Monday and be mentally aware enough to begin cleaning up the carnage. The first day back at work after a weekend may never be warmly embraced, but the second day is when you actually have to start doing stuff again. Monday is so dreaded that Tuesday has been able to sneak under the radar and carry on a campaign of soul-draining activity exacerbated by the need to always be “on”. Humans need the opportunity to break from the world’s bustle and requirements, and all Tuesday can offer is a slap in the face with a, “We’re just gettin’ started,” said in a raspy smoker’s voice for ultimate demoralizing effect.

Monday is the start of the work week. Wednesday is “hump day”, indicating the work week has now peaked and will begin winding down. Thursday is “Friday Eve”, and Friday is the gateway to the weekend. What does Tuesday offer? Nothing. It’s the hangover of weekdays. Perhaps the argument can be made that Tuesday exists to make Wednesday look better; Tuesday is the buffer between the migraine of Monday and the promise of a week starting to wind down in Wednesday. What do you think, does Monday get a bad name? Does it possess enough redeeming qualities to flip the script with Tuesday? I will always hate the feeling I get Sunday evening knowing Monday is right around the corner and my weekend is ending; that is Monday’s burden to bear. Monday will never be my favorite day of the week, but I can tell you, at least this week, that my Monday will be better than my Tuesday. I hope your Tuesday is spectacular, and if it’s just “okay”, remember, we are one day closer to Friday.