November 4, 2019 - 52 - "Somebody Needs a Nap"

Ella:  World-Class Sleeper

   Don't you hate it when you're hanging out with a real grouch?

    They're all whiney and out of sorts and not enjoying anything no matter how great it might be.

     It's a total drag.

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     Especially when it's you.



     I've been in major need of a nap...for about five weeks straight.

     I pushed all my work trips together at the beginning of October.  In between trips I was getting stuff together to come to San Miguel.

     Then I got down here and we assembled an entire house in a week:  from getting the furniture out of the den (aka piled-up storage unit) and distributing it around the house, to cleaning the inches of dust off of everything, to putting plates in the kitchen, toilet paper in the bathrooms, and trying in vain to have tape, scissors, and wastebaskets in the rooms we need them in.  (Which turns out to be, pretty much, every room, doesn't it?)

     Anyway, my brain has been so wound up going through list after list of what needs doing and what to take where, that I seemed to have lost the ability to make it slow down at night.

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     It's been taking forever to fall asleep at night, no matter how tired I was.  No matter how many breathing exercises I try, no matter how many meditation audios I listen to, nothing seems to be working very effectively.  Making my mind and body relax is getting harder and harder.

     But the worst thing is when I actually do fall asleep...then wake up only a few hours later.  (I am so sorry for anyone out there who deals with this regularly!) 

    Ugh!  Stressful times are when you need to be able to function.  And then here you are all impaired by lack of sleep.

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     This was all strange for me.  I've always been an exceptionally talented sleeper.  I've had issues of not always having enough time to sleep.  But, if given half a chance, I could sleep most anywhere, most anytime. 

     I'm realizing just how incredibly important this is.

     A lot of the stress and pressure is behind us now, but I am still doing that half-sleep, or no sleep, thing. 

    Last night I fell asleep a little faster but still woke up about 3 a.m.  Luckily, I didn't stay up very long.  Less than an hour.
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     Then I fell back to sleep.  Really good sleep.  Deep, delicious, sleep.  And didn't wake up until almost 11 a.m.!

     (Cue the angel choirs!)

     Sweet!  I feel soooo great!

     I forgot how good it feels to be really rested.  My brain is firing on all cylinders, my coordination has improved, and I don't feel as achy.  I just all-around feel awesome.  Clear headed, and relaxed. 

     Rest is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful...thing!  (Thank you, Universe!)

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"Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,

The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath,

Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,

Chief nourisher in life's feast."

-William Shakespeare, Macbeth

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