Luminous Ithaka #19
That Sunday Feeling
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Mahatma Gandhi
You know that feeling, right? It tiptoes in sometime after lunch…
That quiet shift in the air. You were just enjoying your Sunday… slower, softer, maybe even a little lighter.
And then that little hum of pressure begins. Perhaps it’s in your chest, or a sudden urge to check your calendar.
Sometimes it’s that whisper: tomorrow is Monday.
Some call it the Sunday Scaries. But really, it’s something deeper.
It’s the soul noticing the shift. From being to doing.
From you to the version of you who performs, manages, and gets things done.
I’ve felt it since school, and though it’s been getting softer since I started working from home, there are still some Sundays that bring me a bit of grief.
But here’s a gentle truth I’ve come to believe when I notice it again:
That softer version of me—the one who breathes more deeply, laughs more freely,
and pauses long enough to feel the sun on her skin—is real.
And she deserves more than just two days a week.
The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.
Sydney J. Harris
That thing you love on Sundays?
A quiet breakfast. A walk. A phone call.
Take a slice of it and place it somewhere midweek.
Just one small act can shift the rhythm.
Find moments of rest.
Rest doesn’t always mean hours on the couch.
It can be three deep breaths before opening your inbox.
A few minutes with your eyes closed and your favorite song playing.
A warm drink, held with both hands.
Treat Monday like a soft open.
Before the rush begins, take a pause.
With a morning walk, or a slower start. Just you and your coffee.
You’re allowed to begin your week with grace.
Count your Sunday blessings, and carry them into the week.
What kind of energy do you want to bring into the week?
Let’s Stay Connected
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