Monday. Whether it strikes fear and loathing in the hearts of those nine-to-fiver-ers, or simply elicits a tired sigh, Monday is rarely embraced with open arms. Me? I love Mondays. Not only am I refreshed from the weekend (yes, even if it was filled with work) and ready to hit the ground running, it gives me a fresh start, a new beginning every seven days.

Now, this, from the inspirational quote department.

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Way back in my second year of university, my RA / roommate printed this quote and passed it around to each of her girls. A simple reminder, yes, but it has brought me through many tough times. Just the other day, my mom (not knowing how familiar with the quote I am), gave me a magazine clipping with this very quote.

To me, this is what Monday symbolizes. We no longer need to be weighed down with our old nonsense from last week, whether it be frustration, discouragement, self-deprication or any manner of negativity. Monday gives us a chance to press ahead to bigger, brighter and better things.

Every year on my birthday, Drew, Prudence and I pile onto the bed and take a family photo from a different perspective. This year, we welcomed a new member of the family. Lola (yes, like the Kinks song), is a nine month old border collie/flat coat retriever that we adopted from the Seattle Humane Society just a couple days ago.

Happy Monday!