Ausgeschlaft

I slept a full unbroken eight hours last night. This is something that never happens. When I woke up, I remember saying to myself as I prepared to check the clock, "I hope it's at least four a.m." and it was already after six. So I just decided to get up and start the day. I'm feeling a little drowsy now, but nothing worse than on a typical day.

This was compensation for a rough night Sunday. I woke up about 2 a.m. and could not get a handle on my anxiety. I think it was some combination of having napped in the afternoon (something I normally avoid on Sundays for just this reason) and having watched 28 Weeks Later when I got up. It was ultimately more action movie than horror film, I thought, but there are some truly disturbing scenes in it that I had trouble shaking out of my head.

But of course once you're awake for whatever reason, that's the invitation for whatever underlying anxieties you have to come out and play. Right now, those include health anxieties (why isn't this sore throat going away?), work anxieties (do I need to have a come-to-Jesus talk with my difficult direct report?), family anxieties (have I got everyone covered for Christmas?), and I don't know what all else. It's those times when I really regret not spending more time learning to meditate.