It’s so interesting how we grow up, what we experience, & what sets our expectation levels & frames our lenses for these long wknds or extra days off.
As kids, if we were fortunate enough to live in a fam setting, these wknds were what we looked forward to: no school, time seeing friends, extended fam get-togethers, BBQs, extra desserts, & maybe even a short fam trip or vacation just to get away.
Around college time (& I know we have a bunch in this community), you’re surrounded by your core group of friends (whether that be one close one, or a whole group that bands together). Even w/o making formal plans, you have plans: someone’s gonna have ppl over their dorm or apartment or house. People are going to socialize bc there’s some down time from class work & you can just let loose & decompress.
Then you get into the “real world”…& before most have settled down/before you have fam responsibilities, it’s like an extension of college – still college friends, new friends, maybe a day back w your relatives, & again maybe even a trip to get away.
Then after that phase is when things start to change. Way more responsibilities. Maybe a fam of your own (but if not, those same friends you spent a ton of time w in wknds past have their own fams, & kids & in-laws to be with).
It’s just not as simple as responsibilities mount for everyone. And, tho cliche, everyone posts their pics on social of a single snapshot of their “great/fun/awesome/relaxing holiday wknd.” Let’s get real – it’s not all like that. But bc of wknds growing up, & social posts, we have FOMO.
I visited some college friends I hadn’t seen in 15 yrs last nt. Amazing get together. But at the end of the day each fam went back to their house, kids had to be put to bed, this nt was their one “big social gathering” for the wkd. Rest of it is filled w taking their kids to games/practice.
I’m not doing much more than last nt this wknd. No great plans. But we can be OK just being. Using the wknd to re-energize. To rest. To eat a good meal or get to the gym or lay on a couch. You’re not missing much. If you’re doing a whole lot of nothing, I’m right there w you!