How did you sleep last night?

The diversity of our unique and personalized sleep stories

Me walking at dawn along a foggy Rockaway Beach. Photo by Pascal Perich

One of the topics I most like to study and ponder is that of sleep. Each of us have our own unique and personal sleep story, that which tells so much about our lives, our genetic makeup, our personality, our childhoods, our history, and also our future. I’ve spent a great deal of time throughout my life in sleep reflection, whether it be about dreams and nightmares, in analysis over a night of sleep struggle, or in questioning whether a new technique or routine seemed to work well or not. We really do spend so much time and energy around and surrounding sleep: trying to sleep, sleeping, trying to wake, waking, talking about sleep, trying to sleep better, trying to wake better. I like to embrace waking life while we have it, though in adulthood, I also like to embrace the importance of sleep, and to recognize it as a vital and deeply important element of our health and wellness.

Sleep more than anything else really (and water and food of course) touches on all of our systems, as it affects and is affected by them all. Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, environmental. If any of these systems feel a bit off or something is bothering us, it will affect how we sleep. If we didn’t get a decent night of sleep or we are behind on our sleeping, additionally it will affect these systems, too.

I like to do a regular reflection, sort of check-in on my sleeping, on my sleep schedule, and most definitely like to touch base with my bedtime and waking-time routine. This is also something I love to study, and I really like to help others with, as well.

So I wonder, how are you all sleeping? We talk so much about how we are living, but how are you sleeping? Are you getting a decent night sleep each night, most nights, some nights, rarely? Is anything troubling you that’s making sleep a difficult task? Do you have any bedtime anxiety? How is your bedtime routine? How is your waking routine?

I had a lot of trouble falling asleep last night, with a lot on my mind and a nagging anxiety that kept me company throughout the evening and into the quiet hours as I settled in for the night. Sometimes this happens, as we all know. I’ve been falling asleep really well and pleasantly for the last handful of days, so it felt especially jarring. Sometimes the contrast of a sudden sleep struggle can feel so drastic when we’ve been on a streak of falling asleep so heavenly. Waking up today, feeling a bit physically groggy and a little emotionally low, I can say that it does make me feel all the more grateful for a wonderful night of sleeping. It makes me feel all the more thankful for those joyous waking mornings, when I open my eyes and smile at my surroundings. Those mornings are a gift. In reality though, every morning we are blessed to wake is a gift. We all know this, it’s just that we are human, and sometimes it’s difficult to access that beautiful feeling of gratitude when something, anything at all, is clouding our reality.

Above my desk I have a little green wall hanging with a prayer from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. July is his birthday month, he turned 89 on July 6, so let’s start our day today with his morning prayer.

Every day as you wake up, think that I am fortunate to be alive. I have a precious human life, and I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand myself out to others; to achieve enlightenment for all beings.

Yes, we are fortunate to be alive. And if we didn’t sleep so well last night, or if our minds feel heavy today, let’s remember that we all have each other. We are not alone. We each have a precious human life, so let’s help each other to discover exactly what we want to do with this amazing opportunity, and how to use our energies to develop ourselves, to continuously evolve into the person we truly want to be in this world. This troubled world needs us at our best, and we can help each other get there each day, one day at a time, and even when we are struggling, our struggles are part of our story, and part of the ways we can learn truly who we are, and help each other to heal.

So in addition to the previous question about how you slept last night and how you are sleeping, I want to ask, how did you wake up today, and how are you waking? What is your waking routine, how will you start the day today? How do you feel?

Sending so much love and good thoughts to you all. Wishing you a beautiful morning, and a beautiful start to your day.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this discussion on Thursday. :)

The ocean in Rockaway on the same morning, after the fog cleared and the sun joined the day <3