On Being Early to Rise

Even in the times of my life where I've been more of a go-getter, I've never been much of a morning person.

It isn't so much that I don't like doing things in the morning; I probably prefer them. It's getting out of a warm, comfy bed that is somehow SO much better than it was when I got into it at night, and getting up when it's dark and chilly. Being up early is actually nice, when you can relax a little before doing something.

I slept in until 7 this morning, which is four hours later than the time I got up yesterday. Go ahead and do the math - I woke up at 3 in the morning three days this week and "slept in" until 4:30 on the others. I've been opening at work, or else I'd never find myself waking up that early. To me, anything before 5 is still nighttime; all the radio stations are playing at that time in the morning is "after midnight" broadcasts.

Surprisingly, as much as I hate dragging myself out of bed when it's still dark and still going to be dark for three more hours (thanks to Daylight Savings, it's not four), it's grown on me. I like that my drive to work is never full of traffic, and that I shave 5 or more minutes off my commute because every light magically turns green when you're the only car out there. I like that when I get there, I don't have to interact with anyone right away and that even when the first customer walks in the door, there probably won't be a line of people right away. I like seeing the sunrise every morning from the window at work (you can't see sunrises or sunsets from our little cave of an apartment). I like getting off work and getting to go visit my bed again because 4:30am shifts deserve a nap time.

This season probably won't be forever. I despair of it at times, because something inside me loves to make a big deal out of things that are not big deals, like interacting so much with people when I'm introverted. It's a season that has shown me that I CAN wake up early consistently and that I CAN go to bed early (going to bed has always been a struggle of mine and I can't figure out why). As far as work itself, it's shown me that I will survive talking to hundreds of people every day with a smile on my face. It's shown me that everyone is wrong, and I DO NOT need coffee to wake up early (I proudly drink mostly water at work, and sometimes a hot chocolate, but just because it's freezing and I would not enjoy drinking hot water).

In a month and a season where people are being more verbally thankful than other times of the year, I am thankful for my job. I'm thankful for the chance to grow in an area that is far from my strong suit in terms of a job, thankful for the character-building that getting up early provides, and thankful that I do have a job. I find that when I think about the positive things about my life, and particularly my job, instead of ALL the negative things I think there are, there's actually much to be thankful for.

I should make a list and hang it next to my warm comfy bed for the next early shift.