Sometimes you wake up in the morning and you just know it’s gonna be a good day.
Today is the first time I’m seeing the morning sun (after waking up) since 9 Jan. Most times I see the sun only after it’s crossed the zenith, unless I see it before going to bed.
But today. Today I needed to be awake in the morning, albeit late morning, and fortune favoured my sleeping cycle. I felt really tired last night, so I went to bed early, intending to rise in the late morning. But lo and behold! I was awake at 4.30am, roused from my sleep by a strange rustle in my bedroom.
I still haven’t found the source of that rustle, but I suspect it’s my pillow that fell of the bed, struck a side table, and woke me. Nevertheless, I was unable to get back to sleep again, so I decided to finish the balance 15 issues of Batman (2016).
And just like how The Dark Knight rose from his descent, I rose alongside him.
At 6.30am I had a choice. I was feeling sleepy. Should I go back to sleep, or should I seize the day and do my sun salutations, an exercise that is sure to boost my energy and liven my day.
I try (and often fail) to do my sun salutations every day. I think I’ve unlocked a key or two.
First, I don’t need to push. I don’t need to try to do 30 reps. I can do 20 and still enjoy the benefits. The feeling that I need to do 30 is an obstacle, a deterrent to getting it done. Nowadays, I ask my body how many reps it feels like doing. Most times I aim for 20 reps, but sometimes my body says, “Let’s do 30,” and I do it.
Second, consistency is key. I find that I get my sun salutations done most often when I wake up in my own bed, and when I do it first thing in the morning, before my mind has a chance to resist and make excuses.
My mood can easily be discerned by the blinds in my room. If the blinds are down, it means I’m in a bad mood and I want to be left alone. If the blinds are up, it means I’m in a good mood and open for what the day brings.
Daniel Tay 