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A Good Night's Sleep 1/25/2024 5:38:46 AM
Nothing like a good night's sleep and (for frosting, if lucky!) pleasant dreams to set the mood for a wonderful day ahead. Try it!!! Because we are such go-getters and achievers in our beloved America, we tend to undervalue sleep and take great pride in not needing too many hours hugging the pillow. How many people do you know why actually brag about the little sleep they "need" to function and get on with their lives? Quite a few, I bet! And, no doubt, we are all different people, some requiring more than others to rest their body, and that is a very reasonable (and non-judgmental) assumption.
I have a relative who is definitely a "sleeper" and claims to not be able to function unless she sleeps a minimum of 12 hours a night: a minimum, as 14 hours is better for her. It is not unusual for her to sleep 20 over the weekends with a mask and ear plugs. A bit much? You be the judge.
All I can say is that when I witnessed this on several occasions while she visited me or I her (for weeks at a time) it was clear to me that depression played a huge part in this particular case. Again, an observation: I don't wish to judge. I've never been able to escape depression through sleep (I wish!), as only movement and exercise - or anything like it will distract me so I can focus on something else.
The critical thing about sleep is that this is the time when our brain cleans itself and the body disposes of the "trash," pretty much like our elimination system. If the brain is not cleaned every night, all kinds of problems arise, beginning with our thinking and other brain functions of which I will write after reviewing my research with medical facts. For now, suffice it to say that sleep is not a waste of time or a luxury but a critical necessity, so please, please give it some thought and experiment.
And, please write me to let me know your thoughts. I'd really like to hear from you.
For now, let me share my gratitude for this girl's good night sleep. I feel so good; I want to share my gratitude and joy by doing something nice for someone in my building, since it's raining cats and dogs in Boston today. So far, as I was stretching outside my apartment on our atrium's "ballet barre" which works perfectly, I cheered up John, my 97-year-old neighbor who was walking by and told me he was very, very lonely. I hugged him tightly for a long time and whispered into his better ear: "You never have to be lonely because I'm just down the hall from you and you can visit me anytime for a chat and cup of tea!" And I meant it.
Have a great day. Today I'm inspired to work on my hand-made Valentines for my neighbors in my senior building.
