Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is in the know,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
And the child born on the Sabbath Day
Is fair and wise and good and gay.
Have you ever heard this old rhyme? There are a few variations, but this is how my Nana recited it for me when I was young.
For some reason, this seemingly innocent poem has stuck with me year after year, and has managed to shape how I think about myself.
Far to go.
I was born on a Thursday and was not pleased by that prediction for my future. I interpreted “far to go” negatively. I’ll have work to do. I’ll never be enough. Things will be difficult for me.
It was a subtle feeling that had no reasonable basis, yet still seeped into my thoughts from time to time throughout my life.
I chanted the poem again recently after an acqaintance posted on Facebook that both her sons were born on a Wednesday, just like she was.
Wednesday’s child is in the know. Good for them, I thought. I still have far to go…
And that’s when it hit me. I have far to go. Far to go! As in traveling far and wide. “Far to go” doesn’t mean I’ll never get there, it means I’ll always want more, I’ll always be learning and growing. I was born to travel and explore and yes, I DO have far to go.
I can’t explain how certain feelings and perceptions get ingrained in our thoughts as we grow. But I can now frame this once- troubling rhyme in a positive light.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere far to go.
Heidi Wagoner says
That is funny. I read it the “Positive” way from the get go. You have so much to see, do and accomplish and you will do it. There are now boundaries for you in any facet of your life. I like this. I was born on a Saturday and it is so true… That is how I can live the life of travel now, all of that hard work.