The month of September is always connected to a song titled "Wake Me Up When September Ends." This song from Green Day was already part of the internet culture, often included in memes, skits, etc. This masterpiece has been engraved in the minds of this generation, especially the kids of the 2000s. However, behind the success of this song, there’s a sad backstory. Billie Joe Armstrong, the frontman of the band Green Day, wrote the lyrics relating to the death of his father on September 10, 1892. According to him, after the funeral, he locked himself in his room, and when his mother called him, he replied, "Wake me up when September ends."
To each one of us, the phrase "wake me up when September ends" may have different meanings. Maybe for some people, this month feels unproductive and they have no energy to accomplish the things they want. Or maybe, like Billie Joe Armstrong, they also have a bitter memory that makes them sad for the whole month.
I think it's a case-by-case basis; it still depends on your current life situation. For instance, September in recent years didn’t bring any catastrophes into my life. It feels like nothing. I still do my usual routine for the whole month, which can help me survive in this world. Although there are occasional events, they're not that remarkable. However, this year I faced a lot of situations that challenged my mental and emotional stability, leading me to just shut down from everyone and isolate myself for a long time.
Mukhang trip ako ni Lord na bigyan ng character development this year, hahaha.
My recent tumultuous relationship has brought me a lot of pain. It's so effing draining that no rest can bring back your energy. It feels like you’re just resting to prepare yourself to suffer later in the day. Actually, I am already lucky if I can sleep for the whole night because most of the time there are a lot of voices in my head keeping me awake. I remember taking a sleeping pill just to bring some melatonin to my system, but it was no help. That’s why when September arrived, I felt exhausted. I just want to sleep for the whole month and just wake up when it ends.
Speaking based on my recent experience, "wake me up when September ends" can also be translated to "wake me up when I am fully recovered" or "rest until I am strong enough to face the present situation." Resting doesn’t mean you’re going backward. Sometimes, taking a break is necessary and also part of the process. We can compare it to sore muscles after working out, where true recovery and formation only happen during the rest, while continuous workouts without taking a break would result in muscle damage and injuries. We might see it as unproductive in the short term but if we look at the longer time frame, we are giving ourselves a favor; to go back stronger and well prepared.
Thankfully, September seems good to me. Even though I entered this month with wounds, I am glad that some of them are already healed and now just scars. Thanks to my friends, who became my support system when I was down. I am also grateful that I successfully entered a new journey as a university student, which helped me to become distracted and be away from negative thoughts. And lastly, thanks to myself for not giving up and battling with his inner demons—you deserve everything good.
Hello, this is my entry for the 4th-week contest of Hive PH. I hope you enjoyed reading my entry ❤️. Thank you!