Given the multifarious nature of sleep, there are way too many theories on the importance of REM sleep, a break from our Alpha Waves, the liberation of Theta and Delta Waves, and the significance of dreams to subscribe to any lone theory of what sleep does for the human mind and body. One thing all theories appear to agree on is the brain’s chemical contribution, and the hormonal influence our brain stem plays in not only regulating our waking cycles, but also the quality and depth of our restorative periods.

I push myself, and work hard, long hours. I am mentally active, and physically stressed much of the time. Though I never shy away from a long walk, or exercise, most of my efforts seem to be mental and emotional. I eat less than most people I know, though I can really shovel it in, I don’t choose to do that most of the time. I have just closed the book on a period of substantial stress, work, and a desperate lack of sleep. For the last few months I’ve set stability as my primary goal, and as of last Thursday some of the fruit of my labor has begun to come to fruition. I’m not sorted, but I have sorted the next couple of months, and stacked up prospects, projects, and paid work through September. In celebration, I went to be fairly early last night and slept for 9 hours.

I can’t tell you how wonderfully restored and relaxed I feel today. I feel ten years younger, calm, and refreshed.

If you have the opportunity, tonight try having a cup of chamomile tea instead of that coffee after dinner. Drop a tiny spoonful of sweet clover honey into it, and sip it slowly over a good book, or a nice Opera CD, and when you feel tired, bring the book to bed with you and let yourself drift away. Don’t set the alarm.

It feels wonderful.