In a few days, you will have survived another winter! Congratulations! How are you starting your days lately? I ask because I’m aware that winter mornings are very tough for some people, and I’m curious. Does spring influence how your day starts?
Some people I talked to start with their thinking. What is the last thing I was thinking about? Was it the dream you had before waking, or what needs to be done today? I know of one person who gets up in the morning and starts with three or five gratitudes. “Thank you that I’m awake! Thank you, God, that I’m alive! Thank you I live in a great place with great neighbors!”
There are so many things to be grateful for: if you have your health, if you have family or friends, have somewhere to be and your car started this morning. Maybe you just like seeing flowers bloom.
I’m a huge fan of starting the day with gratitude. But sometimes, I forget! And I can tell when I start feeling lethargic or a little bummed out.
I’ve talked to a number of people who hop out of bed and get straight into their workout clothes. Once they get moving, the rest of the day starts flowing more positively. Another starts by reviewing the few notes written down before going to sleep.
Quite a few people are first thing in the morning coffee drinkers. They are not interactive until the caffeine kicks in. This is a strategy I followed for years. Since my daughter and I did The Year of Tea, I’ve tried a plethora of teas and landed on chai, mostly because it combines the best of coffee (fermented tea had a decent bit of caffeine with no discernible crash) and the personal blend I use has cardamom, a mood enhancing spice that helps me get my day on. It makes a fantastic cold brew in summer. The blend of creamy coconut milk and spices is a fabulous kickstart for warmer mornings. Although a number of people start mornings with a smoothie or fresh juice, warm drinks seem to win out in cooler climates.
One person I know said, “My day is always going to start better if I wake up to sunshine. I love the last few weeks of February and beginning March when the sun is brightening my room. And then, they do Spring Ahead and it’s dark for another hour. I wish that would cease to exist. I see no value in it whatsoever.”
They’re not alone. An extra hour of darkness in the morning isn’t helpful to me either. What are your thoughts?
What’s true for you?
I’m envious of the people who awaken and get right up. One friend says, she jumps out of bed in the morning. I’m most likely to jump out of bed if I have had restful sleep or something really cool is planned for the day. I’m a huge fan of affirmations and starting a good morning the night before. What would make you jump out of bed?
Because waking up to a clean kitchen makes me happy, I put everything away except what I need to get my chai going and a quart of fresh water.
Before I lay down at night, I take an hour in quiet meditation to wind down. I may also speak affirmations over myself such as, “I enjoy deep restful sleep all night, and awaken refreshed ready to face the day.” Nighttime affirmations may be the most important, because your subconscious works on them all night long.
What do you do on those rough mornings? When you didn’t sleep well, you’re out of your favorite tea or coffee or creamer? When your kitchen might still be a mess and your morning beverage isn’t enough?
What are your sources for day brighteners? I have a friend who always has a joke ready to tell. He gets a kick out of seeing people smile when they get the punch line. Or maybe you are listening to a good-news channel, or you’re a fan of furry animal videos?
You’ve just survived the toughest five years of our recent existence. You’re incredibly resilient and you should take a bow. Since you’re still here, still clicking in to read this blog, I’m hoping you’ll take a minute and tell us how you managed to make it through. Drop your thoughts in the comment box below.
Because, quite honestly, every day doesn’t go according to plan. And when it doesn’t, we need to find some way to reset ourselves.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, it’s always great to have you! Thank you to R. Thomas who stopped by to check out my last post. I hope you’ll come back and see us again!
Juli Ocean 
“What would make you jump out of bed?” Fair question, and despite the next two paragraphs, I consider myself a morning person who is both a naturally early riser and generally cheerful about it.
Still, the only thing that will cause me to actually leap from my bed, as I was reminded last night, is the sound of my elderly dog getting ready to hurl on my bed. Other than crises like that, I’m prone to waking slowly and savoring those moments caught between the sleeping world and wakefulness.
The first thing I do is spend at least a minute or two contemplating the dream that I’ve been immersed in. I let it fade as slowly as possible, pondering the message or meaning behind it.
Next, I stumble my way to the kitchen (or as my spouse so kindly puts it – I zombie walk) for the crucial cup of either hot black tea, or creamy vanilla-laced coffee. Don’t talk to me, and for goodness’ sake, do NOT make eye contact until a sound resembling actual words comes from between my lips. I promise you; it never ever works in your favor.
Where’s the ‘morning person’ who starts the day cheerfully? They show up with the sunrise. Watching the light spread over the sky outside my window brings me inexplicable joy. Dark purple shifting to magenta to fierce orange mornings are my favorite and the high desert where I live makes them a common occurrence.
Thanks for asking. Have a wonderful day.
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This is priceless! I love it. I forgot how motivating pets about to barf can be. I’m definitely more of an early riser in the summer. Why can’t every day be sunny? I will leap out of bed if someone is knocking at my door, but in my neighborhood, that’s pretty rare. They’re all night owls it seems. Or that’s what I’ve decided after hearing my downstairs neighbor laughing late at night (watching some movie, I imagine.) Or if I hear an explosion which did happen two years in a row. Blown transformer, I think. But those are hardly consistent events. I’m also one who captures dreams, but in winter, it’s a reason to stay under toasty covers. Thank you for sharing.
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