Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Why I turn into a pumpkin at midnight!

One of the reasons that I never sleep in is that it is so very incredibly frustrating just to try!

For instance, when I found myself still engrossed in Dickens "David Copperfield" this morning at 3:00 AM, I promised myself that I would sleep in. But I finished reading at first light and drifted off only to be awakened at 8:30 AM by the neighbor's grass cutter.

It happened last Saturday, too. After the KGK camp finished on Friday I stayed in Hirosaki for a Pizza Party that night meaning to be up and away first thing in the morning. - only to become deeply embroiled in an important conversation around midnight! When I finally crawled into bed around 2:30 AM I naturally promised myself that I'd sleep through all my usual morning routine. But it was not to be. The dog across the street insisted on waking the neighborhood at some ungodly hour. I finally gave up pretending to sleep at 7:30 AM and went through my routine as usual.

The moral of this story - bed before midnight.

As I used to tell my children - the key to good (mental) health is to go to bed at night, get up in the morning, eat three meals a day & walk, walk, walk.

I. e. Live a life of quiet MODERATION.

5 comments:

Nick said...

I've heard that as the remedy both for culture shock and mental illness:

eat three regular meals a day
sleep regularly
and exercise 2-3 times a week

But consistency is much harder than it sounds! Anyone can do those things one day, but it seems almost impossible to do them every day in just one month!

Laurie Elliot said...

True enough. But you know the old adage "If you fall down, get up an try again." Well, after many years of trying I'm finally pretty regular about everything but sleeping!

Perhaps sleep should be my project for the fall.

Matthew Celestine said...

Sounds pretty sensible.

Faith said...

How much heartache would be saved if we only DID take care of ourselves! But I identify with getting caught up in a book, or an important conversation.

Remember when our kids were little, we craved those quiet hours after we put them to bed? And now, with one on the other side of the ocean whose day is my night, I have other reasons to miss sleep!

Laurie Elliot said...

I remember, Faith!

This weekend I've had a houseful again with guests besides Luke, Yuko & Grace come to coincide with Anna & Erin's visit.

No time to think! (And definitely no time to write!)

As for your comment, Matthew. I wish I would DO all the things I know are sensible!