The morning......what's good about it??

In answer to the title of this post, I was inclined to write (in all caps- indicating my scream):  "NOTHING!!!"
But that's not exactly going to get this post moving in the positive direction I'm aiming it in......
Ahem....folks, I am NOT a morning person.
I am very much the girl who sets the alarm and falls asleep with the best intention to hear it in the morning-- and spring up and out of bed in rise-and-shine glory to greet the birds and the sunshine and welcome a glorious new day.....(insert singing princesses here.)

Wait. Rewind. I did say intention.

When my alarm goes off, it's still dark and even the birds aren't up. (They know that it's surely not time yet.....)  And I don't even roll over- much less spring up and out of bed. I just smack at my buzzing phone until it goes quiet for 9 more minutes. And I do that about 6 times before finally stumbling to the bathroom feeling around for the light switch, grumbling at myself for not allowing more time to get ready.
This has got to stop......

I know that there are wonderful things about the morning-- small things to be found and cherished, and I am determined to figure out what they are and to include them in my routine.
(There's a concept! ROUTINE!!!)

But........how?
Ahhh....trustly old Google.
Here are just a few ideas that I found and will start to use:

• Go to sleep with the curtains open or blinds up so that the light will naturally help you awaken in the morning. (this won't work in winter for us early-risers, but I still think it's a good one)
• Get up earlier.  HA! ha ha........No really. I think that there is something to be said for this one. I have tried, and failed at this. I set the alarm earlier- but that just means I hit snooze a few more times. In my mind, I have a time that I know I need to be up by, in order to get everyone in my family where they need to go for the day. But getting up to allow the minimum time it takes creates a sense of urgency and doesn't allow for things like feeling the water on my back in the shower for a few more minutes, or even for sitting down while having my cup of coffee. Getting up just one half hour earlier will help the morning feel more relaxed.  It allows for small extras, like reading an interesting article,  or gazing at the neighborhood for a few minutes out the window. Getting up earlier helps us experience the morning rather than rush through it.
• Go to bed earlier. (What? There already isn't enough time in the day to get things done!!)  Yes, going to bed earlier may take a bit of time from your day, but remember, we just added some time to the morning! Going to bed sooner will help us get up in the morning. Plus, when we have the amount of sleep we really need, our energy will be higher all day long, and can help us do more and feel better. Going to bed earlier may help you be more productive.
• Eliminate decisions. I for one, love this idea.  I'm good for nothing in the morning. I'm lucky to match my socks, and I never feel like making breakfast, so often I skip it. (I know--not a good choice) So having things set up the night before is pretty genius. We've heard it before. My mom has probably said it a million times in my lifetime, and I'm going to say it again. Get ready the night before. Choose your outfit, plan breakfast and your coffee or tea, have your towel and hygiene supplies ready to go. This way the morning can fall into place with less effort. (And you won't realize that you're out of milk after you've already poured the cereal.)
• Add music. Music helps to promote thinking and creativity. Listening to what you enjoy at the start can ground you and prepare you for a positive day. Queue Bedouin Soundclash: "heeeyy heyy-ey eyyy! A beauuuuuutiful day!" (you're lucky you can't hear me singing this right now. Great morning song though!)
• Eat breakfast. First of all, breakfast is delicious. That's enough for me. But studies show that eating a healthy breakfast improves mood through out the day, allows for higher levels of thinking, and ironically, keeps our weight down. Check out some healthy breakfast ideas on the internet-- your morning meal should be one that is not only healthy, but enjoyable and a positive start to your day.

OK, now that I plan to embrace this 'morning' thing with a better attitude, let's answer the title question again.......

What's good about morning? 
The start of a new day.
The opportunity to be the best person I can be today.
The gift of life wrapped up and given all over again.....

What's good about  your morning?

-Jennifer

Can you SMELL it?

No, not that lingering, mysterious stank that won't leave the back seat of my car......it's AUTUMN!!!

I know, I know.....I'm early. For goodness sake, we have plenty of summer left.....there's still Wing Fest this weekend, outdoor picnics to attend, evening walks to sweat through.....

But I know you smelled it--- last week, when it cooled down.....Autumn made a guest appearance, and I CAN'T WAIT for the full-time debut!!!
I was chatting with co-worker Krystina yesterday, and we couldn't help but scroll through our fall-time faves......hot apple cider, oversized sweaters, pumpkins on porches, school buses and kids with backpacks, crunching leaves underfoot....... runny noses too, but let's stay positive.

I love fall. I lurrrrve it!!! It's less sweaty, more cuddly, and just plain smells good.
But all this day dreaming about the change of season has me thinking.

What in the world happened to summer of 2010?? For reals. Where did it go?

And has any one else noticed that as you get older, time seems to go more quickly......??
So my mind moves from the excitement of fall to the lament of a lost summer in t-minus 3...2....1....

Let's face it-- life has gotten, well,  fast for many of us- we get caught up in the rush of work, family, housekeeping, schedule juggling......
For others of us, it's an opposite struggle-- we can feel left out of the rush, watching friends, neighbors and family members rushing about, too busy to remember that we need them- we need to connect.  We're here.

Looking back at summer, I know it was full of activity- my kids keep me running from one thing to the next, and once you throw in work, and a home to care for, I can forget stopping to think much less finding time to have a lazy afternoon with my grandfather--- who I know would love my visit. (insert lump in my throat here.)

So, you thought this post was about autumn- did you?  :)  Well, we have time for that, friends.....if we make time. I want to smell autumn, feel it in the air, and most of all I want to share it with those I love. And for me that means slowing down a bit. For some of you it means reaching out to those you care about who might be moving too fast and reminding them that you want time with them....

I will not throw out wordy advice about your scheduling habits-- trust me, it's all I can do to work on my own. What I will say is that we can gain a lot by stepping back and making an assessment of what's working.....and what isn't.
For those of us who find life to feel somewhat like being swept up in rushing flood waters-- it may be time to remove some activities from our schedules.....
Maybe for others, it's more of an issue of not scheduling enough....time with friends, time to exercise, time to learn something new. It's just as frustrating to watch the flood waters rush past while you stand helplessly on the shore as it is to be caught up in them.....

It's a balance, and like most things in life, it's different for everyone-- but let's work on this one....
When you smell autumn creeping in....smell it. Think of your friends here-- and of this post, and make the changes you want for your best fall season.

(and gosh darn it- have a little hot cider!!)  (sniffle.)

-Jen Zeitler
Compeer Staff and Volunteer