Another day.  My weekday usually consists of waking up, using the restroom with the light off, washing my face, turning the light on, and brushing my teeth.  Some days I workout and some days I start by taking a shower, brewing coffee, and sitting in traffic.  Occasionally forgetting my laptop and having to drive back home and start the drive all over again.  

I arrive at work and park my car in the same parking space or on the same floor.  It’s crazy to think I been parking in the same spot for 7 years.  My routine is normal compared to 87% of the people I talk to.  The only thing I am missing is dropping the kids off at school.  I don’t have kids so that added step is irrelevant to my routine.

My office is in a tall building, so I take the elevator.  No stairs for me as I usually carry my whole life every day to and from work.  Why do we carry so much to go to work?  We are worse than high school kids.  I honestly don’t know what is in my work bag, but I know I cannot forget it because one day I might need that thing I don’t even know I have been carrying for the past year.

In my opinion, the workday starts as soon as you reach that elevator.  Elevator talk marks the start of the whole day.  Of course, on Mondays you have the “How was your weekend?”.  Tuesdays it’s the “Traffic was bad this morning” followed by Wednesday “Its almost Friday, do you have plans for the weekend?”.  Thursdays is a mixed bag of weather and the “Did yous…?”:  Did you hear…?  Did you complete…?  Did you receive email regarding…? Did you see…?

I will admit at least once a quarter, I walk slower to reach the elevator or wait for the next ride up so that I don’t have to talk to anyone.  This is not meant to be offensive.  It just is what it is “one of those days”.  I don’t care enough to make an effort for elevator talk.  On “one of those days” I don’t care to know you spent your weekend at a soccer tournament and your kid was benched more than half of the time.  Or that the weather is changing and it’s too hot or too cold. I don’t want to talk about it.

When I have “one of those days” I don’t see them as bad days.  Although people might perceive them as so.  I would rather stay authentic and not fake an answer or feedback.  I would rather not pretend I care about your time wasted on the soccer field or ask if you have spoken with your child’s coach when I don’t want to actually ask.  I know this concept is not foreign to anyone, but no one wants to admit to this feeling.

I wish we could be more open with one another and accept everyone’s “one of those days”.  So, I started a new code phase that I hope is adopted.  A phase that will point out your “one of those days” without being rude.  If for any reason someone steps on to the elevator I waited for, or they stick their hand or foot in the elevator as the doors are closing the only words that come out of my mouth is “What floor?” and I look down.