to each their own

I don’t remember my dreams very often–I’m working on this by keeping a notebook by my bed to write down brief notes when I wake up from a dream in the middle of the night. If only I’d actually use the notebook, I might be making more progress.

Last night was different.

I still remember what seems to be the most random dream; when I woke up from it in the middle of the night, I told my Self that I would remember it for today’s note–and I just recited “to each their own” as I fell back asleep.

And it worked.

In my dream, I found my Self arriving at a restaurant early for a breakfast meeting and saw an old friend of mine–someone I played basketball against from kindergarten through college. He was sitting down with an older woman who was offering him a new job. For a reason I don’t remember, I joined them and sat next to my friend as he contemplated the offer; it was a significant change from his current job as it was jumping into real estate. I remember the women reminding him that there were no guarantees to his income, he’d have to work weekends, which may not be convenient for his family, and a few other differences from what he was used to.

I immediately thought about the weekend working and how, while that isn’t what most people desire, there are tons of benefits of working on the weekends that I remember from when Ang worked every weekend for the first few years of our marriage. I felt like the woman in the dream was trying to talk my friend out of this opportunity by using a reason that may or may not be an issue for him.

To each their own.

We’re taught that the work week is Monday-Friday and that the norm is 9-5; it’s been that way for years, and although we hear more about a four-day workweek, I’m willing to be most people reading this associate the traditional work week to be the “normal” work schedule. That’s great if that works for you, but it doesn’t have to be that, and you aren’t doing anything wrong if you work weekends, different hours, or anything else that falls out of “normal.”

I look at my family’s schedule, and it’s far from normal and probably would only work for us, given our unique dynamics and goals (everyone has unique dynamics and goals, BTW, that wasn’t suggesting we are special). Both Ang and I start work early in the morning, break for the family morning routine, pick work back up, often work in our cars for an hour in the evening while at a practice, and spend time on the weekend working as well. We spread our working hours throughout the day and week, but that allows us the flexibility and freedom to do the things that are important to us and our family throughout the day.

From the outside looking in, it might look like we’re always working, but that’s not the case. We’re also going to school field trips, dropping the boys off at school, walking home from the bus (or sometimes school) with them, working out and taking care of our Selves, and enjoying being outside as much as we can when it’s nice.

It doesn’t look normal, but it’s perfect for us.

If we were worried about following the normal schedule, there would be too many tradeoffs, and our quality of life would suffer.

We’ve found what works for us, and it falls outside of “normal”; find what works for you, and don’t worry about how it fits society’s definitions--to each their own.

Oh, and my friend signed the paperwork to take the opportunity. I got up after he did that and went to my breakfast meeting, but woke up and told my Self "to each their own."

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC