From morning up until now, the rain hasn’t stopped pouring down. I’ve been by my window, looking like a sad child waiting for the rain to stop so I can play with my friends. I checked the weather report, and it looks like the precipitation will continue for the next few hours. With this weather, I can't go outside for cycling or running. I have no choice but to stay inside since it’s flu season, and getting sick would cost me a lot — I don't even have a job!
I considered other things to do in this ‘bed’ weather. I can’t just stay in bed cuddling with my pillow and blanket all day; that would make me feel unproductive. Checking my to-do list, I hoped there were tasks to accomplish. Thank God, there’s none. Unfortunately, most of them are already crossed out, meaning I have nothing left to do. This made me uneasy, thinking I’d waste the entire day doing nothing. Maybe I’m just anxious. Have you ever felt this way? It sucks, doesn’t it?
However, I quickly dismissed these negative thoughts. I realized I was being too hard on myself. Maybe some time off would calm my anxiety, and treating today as a rest day wouldn't be so bad.
Lately, my social media has been flooded with short clips of old cartoons. Watching them, I felt a profound sense of nostalgia. I was tempted to binge-watch these cartoons, but the thought of being unproductive held me back. However, since I decided today is a rest day, I might as well satisfy my inner child.
I prepared my laptop and found a site to stream old cartoons. The annoying ads and random pop-ups ruined the experience, but it’s a free site, and they need funds to maintain the server, so I understood. The first on my list was The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron. Are you familiar with it? It’s about a kid named Jimmy who uses his vast knowledge of science to build random inventions that help his friends, family, and community. I remember watching it on early Saturday mornings or when classes were suspended due to heavy rain. My mom would prepare hot champorado or hot chocolate to warm me up during chilly weather. Ah, the good old days.
I played the first episode of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and I was surprised by how poor the video quality seemed compared to my memories. Back then, I remembered these cartoons as vividly clear and crisp. Just like how I recall the vegetation being greener, the daytime more vibrant, and the skies bluer. Now, everything seems a bit pale. I’m not sure of the science behind it, but I hope you understand what I mean.
After a few episodes, I felt sleepy and eventually fell asleep. I woke up an hour later, feeling refreshed. It was a good nap, the kind that leaves you feeling good. The cartoon was still playing, but I had lost track of the episode, so I switched to SpongeBob SquarePants. Who isn’t familiar with this cartoon? Most of us grew up watching it on television. It’s one of those shows that can make both children and adults laugh, proving it’s not just for kids.
While watching SpongeBob, I realized some episodes made more sense now that I’m an adult. Take the one where someone calls to order a pizza from the Krusty Krab. Squidward, grumpy as usual, initially dismisses the call, but Mr. Krabs steps in and says they have pizza. He then assigns Squidward and SpongeBob to deliver it, even though Squidward is against it.
During their delivery, SpongeBob is happy with his job, but Squidward is tired and annoyed. As a kid, I found Squidward’s attitude irritating, but now I understand that anyone who's overworked and exploited by his boss would be mad and lose enthusiasm in working.
Finally, they find the customer’s house, but he rejects the pizza because it lacks a drink. The customer’s rudeness breaks SpongeBob’s spirit, but Squidward comes to the rescue and smashes the pizza on the customer’s face to avenge his friend.
After watching for a while, I got tired and bored. I turned off my laptop and went back to sleep. The rain outside continued, making it perfect weather to relax. Maybe my day isn’t unproductive after all, because I got to spend it taking care of myself, especially my mental health.
