Just beautiful. I have never been an early riser but I am now; since removing alcohol from my life, I am sleeping the sleep of the dead, as it were, and it’s almost hard for me to fathom. I also used to scoff at gratitude lists; I don’t anymore.
I’m an early-ish riser, but I always wonder whether the correlation to happiness is just that--correlation, and not causation. People have the energy to rise early because they have the energy to rise early.
Julie, this is so beautiful and authentic. “I’m grateful for any day when I don’t wake in pain—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. I’ve had mornings like that—pinned to the bed by my body, or curled under the covers in grief or anxiety. I’ve had enough nights when sleep is scarce, and worries wake me, to recognize the gift and balm of an easy morning.” I feel the same. I also really like Oliver’s poem “Soft Morning,” and it made me think of what you wrote and how you are treating yourself. I love how you are thinking of how to lean into better living but also applying grace and a grain of salt. I am grateful for you and your words today.
Thank you, Mary. "Grace and a Grain of Salt" would be a great Substack name.....You inspired me to look up Oliver's "Softest of Mornings" and it is so lovely. Along the way I also found "Morning Poem" with these words:
Just beautiful. I have never been an early riser but I am now; since removing alcohol from my life, I am sleeping the sleep of the dead, as it were, and it’s almost hard for me to fathom. I also used to scoff at gratitude lists; I don’t anymore.
Lovely piece—ea
Thanks Elissa. Our ability to surprise ourselves is going on my gratitude list.
I’m an early-ish riser, but I always wonder whether the correlation to happiness is just that--correlation, and not causation. People have the energy to rise early because they have the energy to rise early.
That's worth wondering about, and not just about early rising.
Great read. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading and responding!
Julie, this is so beautiful and authentic. “I’m grateful for any day when I don’t wake in pain—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. I’ve had mornings like that—pinned to the bed by my body, or curled under the covers in grief or anxiety. I’ve had enough nights when sleep is scarce, and worries wake me, to recognize the gift and balm of an easy morning.” I feel the same. I also really like Oliver’s poem “Soft Morning,” and it made me think of what you wrote and how you are treating yourself. I love how you are thinking of how to lean into better living but also applying grace and a grain of salt. I am grateful for you and your words today.
Thank you, Mary. "Grace and a Grain of Salt" would be a great Substack name.....You inspired me to look up Oliver's "Softest of Mornings" and it is so lovely. Along the way I also found "Morning Poem" with these words:
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead–
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging–
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted–
Peace and love! Drink the early morning gold of the sun 🙏
You too!