Before Sleep 6
Monday, March 4, 2013 at 8:33PM Mrs. G. ![[Display of home-canned food] (LOC)](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2211/2179131683_3b1bd6c7df.jpg)
Last night Mrs. G. lay awake considering all the goals she should set for herself. Whenever Mrs. G. sets goals for herself they usually take the form of self-improvement. There is something about Sunday nights that slyly coerce her into taking a self inventory of her cerebral larder and she inevitably comes up short of fundamental, crucial staples: bread, eggs, milk, Oreos. Metaphorically, she lacks the essential ingredients of a bestelling, prosperous life.
Of course Mrs. G's heart skirmishes with her brain, calling bullshit on Sunday night and it's attending deliberations. She tossed, she turned, she flipped her pillow for the cool, cotton relief, she journaled, she read and, finally, she played her river card: a guided sleep meditation on YouTube where an Australian guy lulls her to relaxation, ocean waves lapping the shore in the distance. She fell asleep, her pantry fully stocked.
Take that, Sunday.
Before Sleep
Reader Comments (16)
Oh how I could have used that last night! Had to be up at 4:30, and was still tossing and turning at midnight. I'm looking forward to listening tonight, and hopefully falling asleep quickly. If only I could find the off switch for my brain!
I always have trouble sleeping on Sunday nights! I think it is the looming week ahead tha tgets me.
Very cool You Tube video. Thanks for sharing a great find and sweet dreams!
Mondays, in our lives everything can be done starting on Monday.
As of tomorrow that will be so yesterday.
It is always good to check your pantry.
Xo
Love your eloquent summation of Sunday nights.
It was a tough night for me, but not all that unusual. 12:00 woken by snoring. 2:00 had to pee. 3:00 two spam texts woke me (and I was awake for an hour after that) 5:00 I swear I heard one ring on the phone 6:30 someone is crashing things around in the kitchen. Maybe I'll try your Aussie tonight.
Smalltown Me,
You are living my life...
Thanks for sharing the link! I don't know why, but I've never thought to look for meditation on YouTube. I'm doing a free 3 week Chopra meditation starting next Monday. I've done a few of his 3 week free courses before & I really love them. Here's a link for any Derfs that may be interested:
http://www.chopracentermeditation.com/bestsellers/landingpage.aspx?bookId=178&utm_source=chopracentermed_com&utm_medium=Registration_Recruitment_eBlast&utm_campaign=Perfect_Health
A pox on self-improvement! Make resolutions to do all the stuff you like to do that you never get around to! Knit! Read! Get together with friends! Life is short, ladies.
Smalltown Me--do you have an iphone? I accidentally discovered a feature on my phone a couple of weeks ago. I'm kind of technologically special needs, so maybe everyone else already knows about this feature, but if you go to Settings--Notifications--Do Not Disturb, you can set your phone to not ring or notify you about texts unless they are from a list you specify. It is fabulous.
Self doubt that keeps you from sleeping is awful. I do the crosswords from USA today on my ipad. They keep my mind just busy enough to keep angst away. I also keep a stack of funny romance books on my bedside table. Not great literature, but diverting. Kristan Higgins' books are funny and she likes her characters. She has a new one out (The Best Man) that I read this weekend while fever addled with bronchitis.
I read somewhere that self-improvement is the new thing women have to do in addition to having the perfect body/home/children. Lets all give ourselves a freaking BREAK.
Atta girl! way to quit mind-fucking yourself. My brain mostly does that when I wake up in the middle of the night.
Two hundred years ago, people went to sleep much earlier than we as lighting could be scarce and expensive. They did not sleep the night through, however. They would awaken after a few hours, getting up and attending to some chores, perhaps some sewing, writing, food preparation. Some would even socialize, with neighbors. (Doubled checked with my living encyclopedia, Louie; he cited the book, A World Lit Only By Fire.) Now, if only the inhabitants of each household would awaken in the night at the same time.
Hope you slept well last night.
Pretty picture post of pickles poised in a pantry produced a pucker!
My sons, cruelly forced into a plant-based, whole foods diet, enjoy reminding me that Oreos are vegan.
Leonardo da Vinci catnapped for 15 minutes, every four hours, instead of sleeping through the night. Dr. Claudio Stampi, sailor and scientist, recommends polyphasic sleep for military personnel, astronauts, and tortured, artistic types like your sweet self.
O sleep, O gentle sleep,
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee,
That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down,
And steep my senses in forgetfulness?
~William Shakespeare
Rest your soul, dear Mrs. G.
Your stellar writing brings pleasure to me.
Bless your heart; let it fill with glee.
Love from an old friend, Mrs. D.
A few weeks ago, while I was working my husband, who is not prone to watching romantic comedies unless coerced, happened to watch "I Don't Know How She Does It" and was convinced that the scene where Sarah Jessica Parker lies in bed making lists was me! He was especially fond of the part where she adds "stop making lists" on her list.
Oh, those middle of the night queries where we question our own souls and hearts and minds!
Journaling? Check.
Next time, I'm looking up your Aussie helper.