Waking

Waking up and fleeting consciousness are not the same thing. Some mornings, I'll surface periodically, glance at the clock, tell myself, "I really need to get up," and then drift back into oblivion. Waking up is opening my eyes, noticing the sun streaming through the window, and having thoughts storm into my mind. I can still lounge in bed, but there's no question -- I'm not going back to sleep!

I used to think that I could tell what kind of day I'm going to have based on how I wake up. If I'm awake right away, it's going to be a good day; if I'm drifting for hours, I'm in trouble. Now I think it's more of an indication as to how my yesterday was -- did I take care of myself, or did I overdo it again? Either way, a late morning is a signal to be gentle.

I'm definitely learning how to listen to my body. Listening is the first part; learning to obey is next.