Make hay while the sun shines.
The words pop into my head and I have no idea why, unless it’s the light peeking through the drapes, the deep breath I draw when I know it’s Saturday, and while there are tasks – there are always tasks – I can slow down, just a little, when the weekend arrives.
Still, I wonder where the words come from. I wonder about their origin. I think about the expression carpe diem – and know it to be a different animal.
I don’t want to “seize” anything today, but I wouldn’t mind making a little hay.
We all know carpe diem – a somewhat forceful expression, meaning “seize the day” – a reminder of our mortality, and thus the need to act today rather than count on being around to act tomorrow.
How Do You Seize the Day?
This morning, instead of beginning my writing immediately – my habit – I took a little time to wander the web, read this and that, and came across both amusing items as well as a wrenching report on the achievement gap in our nation’s educational system.
As I’m reading, I can’t help but be reminded of my good fortune: my children are healthy, they’re benefiting from excellent schooling; there’s little likelihood that I will go hungry – there’s yogurt and fruit in the fridge for breakfast, and coffee in a container, when I’m ready to brew a second pot.
There are people I love and count on in my life, and they feel the same way about me.
In recognizing my good fortune, I wonder about those who can’t begin to conceive of making hay; each day is about survival.
Making Hay
When I consider the origin of “making hay” and so on, there’s an air of spontaneity to the expression, and an expectation of pleasure. It’s more lighthearted, though carpe diem doesn’t preclude a good time. It strikes me as a broader approach to grabbing opportunity of all sorts – targeted at accomplishment as well as enjoyment.
Searching for the origin of “make hay while the sun shines,” one source suggests it dates to 1546, and simply means:
Make the most of one’s opportunities while you have the chance.
Apparently its original context has to do with medieval farmers (who needed sunlight by which to gather their hay), so perhaps my assumption that it implies pleasurable activities is off base.
Could I be mixing up the meaning with rolling in the hay? Some idealized country scene, in which there’s a bit more time to “just be?”
Presence, Awareness
When I contemplate our cultural preoccupation with “presence” – clear on the fact that it wasn’t so long ago that I didn’t have the mental space to contemplate anything beyond my boys, making a buck, and getting through the day – I return to the notion of awareness.
Awareness of what I have.
Awareness that there are millions of others with far less.
Awareness of responsibility – to contribute to my community.
Awareness that living a certain (extreme) work ethic, I needn’t entirely deny myself a little “time off.” And in considering that reality, I wish we were less hard on ourselves – those of us who work hard but never feel it’s enough – especially the women. I’d like to think we could become more comfortable with awareness – able to take it as it comes, seek it with less forceful intention, and allow it to permeate the way we experience our hectic lives, when we are able.
I look back on years of feeling overwhelmed and over-committed, and making hay was the last think on my mind – however you might define the expression.
Besides, I’m convinced I was better off not so conscious of my harried present. It made getting through the long days easier, and looking ahead was more motivating as well as more pleasant.
Back (or Forward?) to Basics
Even in the “blur” years of mothering and making ends meet, I understood my priorities: people before things, relationships before work, a balance of mining the past for its lessons and the future for hopefulness. The present had its notable milestones of course, and they were usually unexpected.
With my sons older, I’m as busy as ever (more, in some ways), but it’s easier to make room for now – including the idea of having fun. There is today’s good work accomplished, today’s entertaining conversation, today’s contributions that reach beyond my own needs, as well as tomorrow’s. And, there is the Saturday morning realization that the sun is shining.
I’ve always believed we must stay open to good things – but they will come when they come. Tomorrow may bring rain, or another clear and brilliant sky. For now, this now, it’s time to stretch my legs, breathe deeply, and make a little hay.
- Do you schedule all your play time or “hay” time?
- Is spontaneity part of your daily picture?
- When you’re going through tough times, is lack of presence – and focusing on a “someday future” – helpful?
I read this article with interest. As an educator, I could not help focusing on the link you provide and the sad state of American education. This country refuses to do what is an American concept: give an equal opportunity to all.
The US funds its schools through real estate taxes generally resulting in a system where the rich neighborhoods have well funded schools and the poor do not. I won’t get into the corruption of the local school boards, or I will manage to ruin my day. What the hay! It is a system where there is no equality and clearly no support structure for single and other women who want to raise children and have a decent quality of life.
If rolling in the hay is truly equivalent to having fun; the expression rarely applies to American moms’ lives, especially the less economically fortunate!
Educator,
Thank you for taking the time to read that long (Huff Post) article. It certainly drives home the point that we have much to do before education is “equal” in any way in this country.
Thank you also for your note on what many mothers go through. (And I was amused at your inclusion of yet another expression to do with hay!)
We are actually in the process of “making hay”.
For us it means getting the work done while you can; the cutting, the turning (to dry better), the baling, the loading, the unloading and finally stocking the barn. Sometimes it rains when it wasn’t supposed to and that complicates things, but as long as it remains sunny and dry EVERYTHING humanly possible is done to “just get the job done”. Done and Over With, to again enjoy a slower, kinder, pace and maybe even some time off, a day, anyway (between feedings) to savor the beautiful weather someplace other than the farm!
There is our definition of “making hay” or” busting a_ _ so that it is over and done with, and once again TIME becomes your own” 🙂
If we are lucky we get 3 cuttings over the summer…
La Bergère! What a fabulous response. You certainly do know how to make hay – in all ways! And oh, for a bit of that time once busting a** is over and done, n’est-ce pas?
As I get older, I understand the importance of enjoying the present. Oh sure, I look forward to things in the future and reminisce on wonderful memories, but the present day is the only one we have right now. We’re not promised any more than that.
I hear you, Lisa. And appreciation of simple things can mean so much.
When’s the last time I had fun? Just got back home from a surprise 3-day birthday celebration my sisters and I planned for our mother – who just turned 80. Family and friends came from all over – arriving incrementally to surprise her – which worked so she could savor each one’s presence before the big party. We, my sister’s and I, made hay (preparing and planning and working behind the scenes) while the sun metaphorically still hines on my mother’s time here on earth. How fantastic to see her so happy. Some fun, like this event, are scheduled and thought out – but it’s the serendipitous moments that inevitably occur that often end up being the most memorable and treasured.
That does sound like fun, Barb! 80 years young. Wow. (And let’s hear it for those serendipitous moments.)
I am constantly trying to stay in the present. Although I am a planner, my daughter helps me cultivate room for spontaneous moments.