"Free at last, free at last..."
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I got up in time for the sunrise. And it was well worth it! Still groggy, as though by drugs, I managed to make myself get up remembering that I had made coffee the night before so that it would be there ready for me.
How do some people just spring from their bed without any hesitation, and do not seem to need coffee to loosen their vocal cords, for they just start right off with endless chatter and movement about? I, on the other hand, stagger from bed, perhaps a left-over habit from my drinking days in college, to the coffee pot, the well-spring of life. The first cup, though delicious, doesn’t quite do it for me. It’s only after the second infusion of caffeine that I begin to come alive.
Even then, I am not a social animal. I do not, upon arising or for a time thereafter, care to hear the human voice. It grates not only on my ears but on my nerve endings as well. In other words, I like to awaken slowly and alone.
My husband of 43 years still does not quite understand. Being disabled he has quite a few needs and requests that are made of me first thing upon arising. These I fulfill in silence. He fairly well knows by now not to address me nor remind me of his needs. I will, in my half slumber state, complete the tasks as required without verbal prompting. He is kind enough to leave off the television until I am out of hearing range, and with progressing age, that range gets shorter and shorter as my hearing gets worse and worse.
What creatures of habit we are! Perhaps this non-morning-person-demeanor is a hangover from my drinking days in college (i.e., opening my eyes for the first time with my head still on the pillow), and doing a “check” on my physical condition, much like a pilot performing a pre-flight check, to see what my chances are to arise from bed, perform the necessary duties, and then make it to class after at least that first cup of coffee. After having the cup in my hand, I would feel “normal” and would then return to the bedroom, take a shower, dress and go to class.
And so, my coffee routine now serves to remind me of how different we all are and how good it is to understand and accept those differences. My husband is quite adept at it.
Now, for the most part, so am I. Peace and serenity eventually, though it still must be after "coffee", are my companions. Just as bad habits are hard to break, good ones are sometimes difficult to cultivate. And the morning ritual is so important to me for it sets the tone of my day. And that is why sunrises are so important to me.
For to sleep through one sunrise, reminds me of my former mornings when the rising of the sun meant the prior day’s long journey into oblivion was about to begin again. And now, the sunrise reminds me that another day, pregnant with possibility and choice is mine to do with as I will. What I make of today is largely of my choosing for my attitude of spirituality is of my making. This, my attitude, is something over which I can exercise control. “Free at last, free at last, thank God, I am free at last”, to quote a great man, Dr. Martin Luther King. Though in a very different context, it is, nonetheless, very apropos.
And so I salute the sun this morning with joy and happiness in my heart, a clear mind, and a peaceful soul. And with a fit body, mind and spirit, I begin my day.
I got up in time for the sunrise. And it was well worth it! Still groggy, as though by drugs, I managed to make myself get up remembering that I had made coffee the night before so that it would be there ready for me.
How do some people just spring from their bed without any hesitation, and do not seem to need coffee to loosen their vocal cords, for they just start right off with endless chatter and movement about? I, on the other hand, stagger from bed, perhaps a left-over habit from my drinking days in college, to the coffee pot, the well-spring of life. The first cup, though delicious, doesn’t quite do it for me. It’s only after the second infusion of caffeine that I begin to come alive.
Even then, I am not a social animal. I do not, upon arising or for a time thereafter, care to hear the human voice. It grates not only on my ears but on my nerve endings as well. In other words, I like to awaken slowly and alone.
My husband of 43 years still does not quite understand. Being disabled he has quite a few needs and requests that are made of me first thing upon arising. These I fulfill in silence. He fairly well knows by now not to address me nor remind me of his needs. I will, in my half slumber state, complete the tasks as required without verbal prompting. He is kind enough to leave off the television until I am out of hearing range, and with progressing age, that range gets shorter and shorter as my hearing gets worse and worse.
What creatures of habit we are! Perhaps this non-morning-person-demeanor is a hangover from my drinking days in college (i.e., opening my eyes for the first time with my head still on the pillow), and doing a “check” on my physical condition, much like a pilot performing a pre-flight check, to see what my chances are to arise from bed, perform the necessary duties, and then make it to class after at least that first cup of coffee. After having the cup in my hand, I would feel “normal” and would then return to the bedroom, take a shower, dress and go to class.
And so, my coffee routine now serves to remind me of how different we all are and how good it is to understand and accept those differences. My husband is quite adept at it.
Now, for the most part, so am I. Peace and serenity eventually, though it still must be after "coffee", are my companions. Just as bad habits are hard to break, good ones are sometimes difficult to cultivate. And the morning ritual is so important to me for it sets the tone of my day. And that is why sunrises are so important to me.
For to sleep through one sunrise, reminds me of my former mornings when the rising of the sun meant the prior day’s long journey into oblivion was about to begin again. And now, the sunrise reminds me that another day, pregnant with possibility and choice is mine to do with as I will. What I make of today is largely of my choosing for my attitude of spirituality is of my making. This, my attitude, is something over which I can exercise control. “Free at last, free at last, thank God, I am free at last”, to quote a great man, Dr. Martin Luther King. Though in a very different context, it is, nonetheless, very apropos.
And so I salute the sun this morning with joy and happiness in my heart, a clear mind, and a peaceful soul. And with a fit body, mind and spirit, I begin my day.
posted by Sandra | 9:30 AM
1 Comments:
When the day hasn't yet begun, I, too feel a calm that can't be defined.
Post a Comment
<< Home