How to Spend the Weekend, Living

A weekend well-spent is a well-written day in one’s history; that’s what I thought to myself after a 360 degrees shift from my usual week break.

After some toxic work days, I used to rush to my weekends throwing hundreds on alcoholic provisions and waking up the next day wasted with the worst hang-over. The unproductive patterns caused peril to my health and well-being. Suddenly, on one subtle afternoon, I hit rock bottom and left some filthy pages on my life’s timeline.

Fast forward, today, I have learned to spend my weekend living rather than killing myself week-after-week. I have kissed those bottles goodbye, bid my farewell to fumes, loud nights of filling in some loneliness and insecurities. My weekends are now spent pursuing my passions and carrying out the essentials.

Prologue

Coffee.

Cool creek breeze.

Crimson red skies.

A Ray of sunlight.
The soulful sound of waves.

Surreal alternative music.

Inspiring architectural edifice.

Good laughs with positive people.

And, a moment embracing one’s existence.

Spend the weekend with the right people

The best Sundays are those I spent with my family attending Mass, eating grilled pork belly, or visiting a relative, some family friends, or chilling out with our neighbor. Those moments when we laugh on something silly are the most poignant memories I carry with me. Spending quality time with our loved ones, even with positive good friends, is simply priceless; it gives us warmth, encapsulate us with belongingness and inspires us to believe the good things in us.

Pursue Your Passion

Spending the weekend pursuing one’s passion is massively self-enriching. Our passion is like a fuel that ignites our drive to stride along life despite the adversities. It takes us away from a stressful environment to our own universe where creativity overflows. It could be playing the guitar, taking pictures, painting, or simply writing. Doing what we truly value gives us fulfillment and a sense of direction towards our long-term life goals.

Seek new landscape and appreciate the moment

With limited time, it would be cumbersome and costly to travel far. Instead of tiring one’s self, I discover nearby places and embark on new activities. As Marcel Proust rightly sums it up, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes”; it would be awesome to check on the local coffee shop, an art exhibit, a boat ride along the creek, discover a new music, or simply watch the clouds while lying on green fields.

Reflect, Make a Gratitude List and Plan

Reflect on the lessons from the past week and learn from them. If you had a bad week, leave it there but bring with you the message which is important for one’s personal growth. I usually review the lessons and make a gratitude list for all the good things bestowed upon me. A gratitude list helps me appreciate my life amidst the hurdles and allow me to look forward to better days. Before hoping in the new week, I ensure to make a plan just to keep things in perspective and guide me through my chosen track.

Find happiness

For some invisible forces, I included finding one’s happiness on how to spend the weekend living and not merely passing or surviving. Though this may sound complex for a weekend, it is taking hold on that lasting happiness which makes life worth the grind. Happiness could be tantamount to internal peace of mind, freedom of being, could be the simple precious smiles from our loved ones or the reason for our existence; whatever it is, find it and, at least, grasp it. It will surely change how you take in those weekends.

I had a superb weekend and I will have countless great weekends ahead. It is not rocket-science on how to spend the weekend with significance or productively; but simply, a choice I have picked for myself.


Photo credits: Ryan Acorda (IG: @ryanx08)