On Returning The "Old" Grind

By Daniel Stankus on July 4, 2014

Times are changing. I returned home Sunday (June 29) night after being gone for five months. Most of my friends are living elsewhere, my friends that are here have the old grind Monday to Friday, nine to five jobs, I couldn’t get a full-time job at my old job, many of my coworkers have moved on, and even my house is different.

I’m about to be a senior and I don’t have a summer internship either, I’m just taking it day by day. I suppose I could use the rest after traveling around for a semester, but at the same time, this weird juxtaposition of always having something to do and now having nothing to do doesn’t feel right. I’m not a chill guy. I don’t enjoy doing nothing and sleeping until two. It’s not high school anymore and although it hasn’t been 24 hours since my return, I’m already looking for a productive outlet.

I wish I had a nine to five, as much as a younger me would be ashamed of that notion. The simple fact of the matter is that you need money in order to do things you enjoy. Humans aren’t made for idleness. Now, after gallivanting and wandering around, I never want to stop. But you have to take a step back. Make your efforts purposeful by splitting life into two parts: work and fun. You must work to have fun, and have fun to justify work. Obvious, I know.

People say, “You can never have too much fun.” Yes, you can. I did. Now I just want to return to my old job and see my old friends but that wasn’t meant to be. For me, working at my summer job is chilling but I can’t even work full-time.

Coworkers and I off to Great America

So my younger, jobless self is reemerging to think of things to do. I’ll probably go for a bike ride, start some summer reading, walk my dog, play the instruments I’ve been missing and continue searching for a good routine.

To you: Enjoy your summer job and the old grind, enjoy the things you missed about home life even if they’re not all there and keep working for the better times.

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