Time for living well

A recent Facebook post linked to a column here that I found interesting. It was about the value of developing a habit of waking up earlier.

I learned that life-changing lesson when the older of our two sons was a toddler. Getting up half an hour to an hour earlier than everybody else in the house made my day go smoother and happier.

My entire life before that, well, what I remember of it, was marked by my post wakeup discombobulation. (discombobulated -- having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion--from The Free Dictionary.) 

My discombobulation manifested as a slow start, sensitivity to sound and bright light, a general sense of disorientation, grumpiness, and eventual frantic scurrying about.

I can’t remember exactly what prompted the change, but the immediate difference was calmer mornings. Other changes followed without conscious effort on my part, which was good because achieving consciousness upon waking from a deep sleep was, and still is, a daunting proposition.

I found that even though I couldn’t open my eyes all the way when I first stumbled out of bed, with those extra minutes from arising earlier, I could sort laundry and throw a load in the washer without further deterioration of my mental state. In fact, any task that was mindless and required physical movement helped me ease into the day.

Eventually I also discovered that after a cup of hot tea, savored slowly while I enjoyed the quiet, I was more awake. I could read my Bible (without dozing off most of the time), pray, and ponder what I had read. Those final three steps were often exactly what helped me later that day or later in the week when difficult circumstances arose.

Since my stroke, I find those quiet times a little later in the day. I now need about nine hours of sleep and rarely wake up before my spouse. But Husband Walter is well-acquainted with my morning slowness and greets me—quietly—with a hug and a mug of hot tea.

Hot tea in one of our extra special mug gifts starts good thoughts and precious memories percolating for me.

Isn't it wonderful how little things often constitute big, big blessings!

Have a great week.