Dear thesis,
[...]I’m asking you to forgive me if I take the time to do other things, even see other people. I need my space. I need my sleep. I need to spend at least a few minutes every day with, you know, family, friends and things.[...]
Dear thesis,
in the past few years, I’ve been dreaming about you. I’ve prepared you, read hundreds of papers to feed you, prepared careful studies and experiment just so I could talk about them to you. I’ve been working like a slave for you. Because to me, you’re so worth it. And now, you are finally within my reach, and it makes me so happy.
We’ve spent a lot of time together lately: writing, crafting, revising, analysing, trying to come up with just the right words to tell the world what we’re about, what you’re about. It seems like all we do these days is hang out together, and that all I think about is you. And, again, you are worth every second of it.
I love those moments we have together. Really, I do. I’m passionnate about what we are doing, and I would never change any of that for the world. But, you see, lately I’ve been feeling a bit … how can I put this …smothered? We spend so much time together, I’m afraid its going to kill our relationship from the inside. Sometimes I stare at you for so long, I can’t remember what all this was about in the first place. I can’t find the right words, I get tired, I become cranky and I take it all out on you. I think you deserve better than that. You need my full attention, you need me at my best, rested and energised.
So I’m asking you to forgive me if I take the time to do other things, even see other people. I need my space. I need my sleep. I need to spend at least a few minutes every day with, you know, family, friends and things. Also, I need to exercise a little. You don’t want me looking fat and sluggish when I present you to the examiner, do you?
Don’t get me wrong, you’re my #1 priority right now, and I’m commited to this relationship, all the way up to graduation(aaah, graduation. It’ll be a glorious day, my dear. It’ll be our special day). But if we are going to do this, we need to do it right. I’m sure you understand. So I’ll see you after I get a bath, kiss my wife and get a good night sleep. Maybe I’ll spend an hour at the gym tomorrow, too.
With love,
Your PhD Student
Important message to PhD students all over the world: TAKE A BREAK! You thesis will thank you.
