up:: [[Philosophy MOC]] Tags:: #🌿 # The cyclical nature of life Life is incredibly cyclical. Not just in the day but in the week, month, and year as well. ### The Daily While every day changes somewhat, the overall tendencies in what I do stay the same. As I explain in [[Habits Vs. Projects|I'm more of a habit person than projects]]. In the morning I like to exercise, than do my most important writing or task, and then break my fast with a friend. The afternoons change but generally I write, read, study, or pursue a project. For dinner, I always try and eat with someone and if I'm not socializing afterward I like to read. Then I do my night routine and go to bed. Most people are more social in the evening. What astounds me is even if I have an amazing day, I see tons of friends, make progress on important projects, and create great memories, if the next day I don't see a friend for lunch I get lonely. It doesn't translate. And worse yet, if I have a 9/10 day, the next day is always only ever capable of being a 7/10 at best. It's probably because my [[Dopamine]] levels need to level off but it's really annoying. There's also an aspect of shame in that I can feel thoughts of loneliness and sloth when other people are dealing with much worse things than I am. Some people have no friends. Or can't exercise because of a physical impairment. Who am I to feel these things? [[The day is the fundamental unit to express virtue]]. ### The Weekly By the week, life is cyclical as well. During the week, especially during the school year, people are doing more work. On the weekends people are more willing to do things. At college I often see people working like snobs over the week only to completely verge out and party on the weekends. It's unsustainable. ### The Month On the monthly, there's enough time for people to legitimately change. Major life events can come and go. [[The Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Episode 82|Bipolar people]] can switch states. Priorities can change. ### The Seasonal Spring, summer, fall, winter. Everything changes based on the season and period of life you are in. As a student or teacher, summer is a time of way more freedom. Contrastingly, most people I know are much more depressed in winter. They spend less time outside and don't have as much time for friends or family. In a way, the seasons are good because change forces us to change our routines. If we never changed routine, only followed habits, our days would become mashed together in memory (see: [[Habits Vs. Projects]]). See [[Wintering]] to learn how people can deal with this. ### The Yearly Every year people make New Years resolutions, most of which are broken after a few weeks, but they try. Nonetheless on the year, people drastically change. Unless you aren't exposing yourself to novel stimuli you have to. ##### Learning is cyclical Memories aren't permanent. We [[Forgetting|forget]] things over time. I find I repeatedly have to relearn things. One of the areas I have noticed this most is in [[The cyclical nature of learning lessons|reading philosophy]]. #### Not Every Day Has To Be Memorable Not every day has to be one you remember. Sometimes the best days are the ones you forget next month. You just follow your routine. You give yourself rest for the memorable days to come.