Ephemera: The Underrated Beauty of the Mundane - English
Time is sliced, eat a slice at a time.
I have been pondering all the little things that make up a day.
As someone who designs and creates her own day, I understand what makes up a day—all the things I would regret not doing, all the things I would regret doing, and the most messy ones—and what I believe I could have done better even if I did everything correctly.
A day is almost never perfect. Days filled with work and production are ideal for me, but I feel as if I've ignored my friends and family. The days when I'm constantly laughing and chatting and spending time with friends are equally enjoyable, but it makes me nervous to find myself promising myself, just before falling asleep, that I'll be more diligent the next day.
Nevertheless, being my own boss for five years taught me something. I'm becoming an expert at designing my day, better than almost everyone I know.
I divide my day into hourly chunks, similar to how you would slice a loaf of bread. Every hour, I focus solely on one task and do not think about anything else. Keep the phone and any social media devices away.
The alarm clock I set when I start work tells me when that period is up, and that's when I quit. I don't consider quitting until that moment. I'm working on the task until it's completed. So I spend my time focusing on the work at hand and not thinking about anything else. For example, I've given myself till 10:30 to finish this post, and it will be completed at that time.
This provides a very practical sense of limits. Because I have to complete it within a certain time frame, I can't think about anything else; I'm more focused, and my brain is more active. It doesn't have the opportunity to lay on the couch like a jellyfish, yet it remains attentive like a night owl. For example, look at how my fingers are working right now since I know I only have till 10:30, after which I will go on to other tasks.
I'm much happier since I've found this way of slicing time. I have time for many things during the day, from working to having fun, and more importantly, I don't sulk about what I can’t manage to get done. I become active and do it instead of thinking about it.
Completing a task provides a sensation of accomplishment, which is delightful.
When I pondered about all of this, I came across the term ephemera, which refers to daily, transient work, materials, and papers that are primarily required for daily tasks but eventually become unneeded. It was invented by magnificent Greek people who sought to grasp and define what makes up a day (it stems from the word ephēmeros, which means "lasting only one day").
Things we disregard as mundane make up our days, weeks, years, and, finally, lifetimes. Fortunately, if we shift our perspective, we can appreciate them all.
The day is beautiful, as are those who create it.
How lovely are the tiny notes we take to plan? What would we do without them?
It's also wonderful to make a toast for ourselves, our partner, our kids, or a friend who is coming over for the night. Without them, what would we remember and laugh about in the future?
Even ironing is beautiful. Who wouldn't prefer to wear a t-shirt that has been gently patted and smoothed for them?
If I've learnt anything during the last five years of organizing my own day, it's that the day is king of life. Nothing, not years or weeks, can replace a well-planned and lived day.
I wish you a week full of fulfilling days, as you deserve.
— Gulsun
We are made of stories—that is, of words.
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