Daily Tune In

Yoga teachers always say to tune into your body at the beginning of class. It will let you where you are.

True. Sometimes I am strong, ready to try any arm balance, even if I smash my nose onto the floor and want to cry. Other days I am stiff, and can barely raise my body off the floor for a backbend. Sometimes I feel invincible. Grateful. Wow!

But this is even MORE true for running. My daily (or semi-daily) run is the ultimate check-in. If I drank the night before, My God that run is a slog. If I rested, I feel light and happy on my feet. If I feel blue, it will take two miles to get me out of my funk. If I didn't eat enough I will run out of gas part way through.

If I eat fruits and vegetables and greens and nuts, I really do feel better.

Running so much has also shown me that my blueness often starts with my body, not my head. Interesting...

Of course I know that food and sleep affect physical performance. But to tune in daily and see what that really means in an endeavor that I cannot coast through is astounding. It all matters. It all matters more than I want to believe. It matters sooooo much. If it matters that much I am a fool for not paying attention. Even when I am not running.

Don't you think?

I need to pay attention.

My body is trying so hard for this endeavor. I need to respect it and help it out. No more martinis the night before a long run.

Boring, but True

My moods swing and I go along for the ride. When I start to reel out of control, or sink into blue, those who know me best ask, "Have you eaten? Have you slept? Are you hormonal?"

I fly into a rage.

No, I always insist. These feelings are real! deep! and true!

And when self-help givers counsel more sleep as a way to happiness (Gretchen Rubin, wonderful author of The Happiness Project and related blog) goes through a gazillion ways to make yourself happier, but hits on sleep as one of the biggest.

BORING!!!!

I want inspirational quotes to cling to and paste up around my work space, a dramatic life change, a new diet of leafy green superfoods, more exercise, a book that will change my life, a challenge that will speak to my soul, a spiritual practice that will keep me practicing.

So I poo poo sleep and its benefits.

I bet you can see where this is going.

After seven years, I am sleeping every night with no child in my bed, all night long! No boys start in our bed, but we always end up with one. I have gotten so tired over time that I no longer consider myself tired. My energy level and outlook are simply a state of being, a new equilibrium. I cannot remember any other way. As proof that the child beside me is not affecting my eight hours I always tell Jonathan: the wiggly boy beside me is not interrupting my sleep, because I do not even wake up when he crawls in beside me. I am surprised to find him there in the morning. I swear!!!

A friend scolded us so roundly a few weeks ago about letting Benji in the bed that I was humbled and promised Jonathan we would kick Benji out once and for all (he is so sweet to snuggle and soon he won't want to snuggle at all...). So we made the chart and we cut a deal: 30 nights in his own bed, no coming us to before daybreak, and he gets a razor scooter.

Tomorrow will be Day 14.

Which means I have slept through the night with no kicks or wiggles or pushes, or fears that someone was going to fall out of bed, or an arm at an odd disjointed angle for two weeks now.

The difference is astounding! I am the old me! I have energy, hope, dreams.

Some new life force is flooding through my veins.

All because of sleep. Glorious, sweet, delicious sleep.

So boring. But sooooo necessary.