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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Midnight Beginnings / Endings?

Life is a huge circle, isn't it?  Each day begins another chance for everything from repeating what we've already done well (or not so well) to taking on some new challenge and a chance to grow intellectually or gain strength emotionally.  It is also a chance to waste opportunity and time doing absolutely nothing at all. We can choose to just BE for an hour or for the whole day.  The point is, of course, it is our choice to make each new day something or nothing.  Nothing days are okay now and then, but stifle our creativity and our urge to live if we allow them too often.  Everyone gets to decide how often is too often. I choose to fit one of those into my schedule weekly, most of the time.

I am a night owl by my natural clock.  I am most content when I can stay up until 2 a.m. or so and sleep until 8 or 9 a.m.  I can adjust when I need to and still usually sleep 6 to 7 hours, if no alarm wakes me, regardless of when I actually go to bed.  Because of my recent retirement, I now live on my natural clock cycle and find that I am more rested and more motivated than I have been in a long time.  That being said, I now have days to do whatever my heart needs.  Some days, not many, that means I can just write all day or read all day or play silly 'puter games by the hour or float in the pool for hours.  I can start some crafty project and finish it!  I can watch TV or go for a walk or take my Momma someplace she might  want to go. I love spending time with her and I admit here and now, sometimes that is my choice for a ME day.  It really isn't about HER as much as it is about ME enjoying my Momma's company.

Some days are about obligations.  Appointments that need to be made and kept.  Groceries that need to be purchased and stocked.  Meals that need to be made for sharing or for sustenance. Cleaning required for mental health, in my case. Maintenance around the home or outside.  Vehicle maintenance to save money in the long run, "Pay me now or pay me later."  Remember that commercial?  It runs around my head every time I think maybe I won't get that oil change today.  There are often phone calls that need to be made and take time and presence of mind, so I tend to put those off until I have several to make!  My presence of mind is sometimes something I have to assemble.  These days are not about me, but about keeping me somewhat sane and in control of my life and my surroundings.  Without these days, I would be a raving maniac because disorder and dirt around me makes me very uncomfortable and very anxious.  An undone "to do" list will haunt me until it has been completed and discarded.

Each day ends at 11:59 p.m. and the new day begins at 12:00 a.m.  One minute from yesterday to today and from today to tomorrow.  Each midnight is the beginning of a new chance and the end of the last chance.  I am almost always awake to experience this transition and sometimes I reflect on the day passing and look at my plan for the day approaching.  Midnight is a magical time of moonlight, night sounds and dreaming.  It is my "alone" time with my thoughts, hopes and blessings.  It is my time to appreciate and plan.  If I want to be someplace else in my personal growth, it is my time to lay out that plan.  It is my time to forgive myself for not being all I could have been today and encourage myself to do better tomorrow.

Midnight is the end all and fresh start of each day the Lord gives to us to do with as we please. 

The world begins anew every midnight. The moon rises high either full in glorious earth glowing splendor or just a sliver of light sneaking across the sky almost unnoticed.  The sun lights the other side of the earth and promises to bring midnight around to them in a short 12 hours.  For many people midnight just passes while they sleep every single day completely unceremoniously.  Yet, it passes into the new day of new chances anyway.  Regardless of how you welcome or ignore the blessing of midnight, it comes and it begins and ends every 24 hours.

Wishing you all a new appreciation for the bewitching hour of midnight!

Jo

21 comments:

  1. Jo Namaste and thank you for this post which is a lovely reminder to stay in Presence!

    Blessings,

    Julie

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  2. Thank you Julie for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Presence is very important, isn't it?

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  3. Great post, Jo, I can relate to everything you say here. I've also found that living on one's natural clock cycle works so much better than forcing oneself into something that's not natural.
    I can also spend days doing 'nothing'; other days are filled with the necessities of life, jobs that need to be done and also social events with friends and family.
    But, whatever happens during the day, midnight is 'my' time and I love it.

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  4. Thank you Paula...and thanks for the help earlier with my friend trying to comment.
    As I said on your page, we are peas in a pod! lol
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on my humble page.

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  5. I don't like dirt or disorder either, so I always pick up and clean up before I can enjoy doing nothing. Once that stuff is taken care of, though, I little 'nothing' is a wonderful treat.

    You are blessed to still have your mom, and it's wonderful that the two of you spend time together because you want to, rather than out of obligation. That's wonderful. :O)

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  6. Are you happy now my fellow night owl? I always enjoy reading your blog and actually anything by the famous Jo Heroux.

    Sincerely,

    Michele L. (Chele) Doane

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  7. @Beth...It's been kind of a life lesson Momma taught us, I guess...work first, then play!
    Thanks for sharing, you know I love to hear what you think.

    @Chele...Thank you, I just wanted to make sure that would work. Another friend wanted to comment and couldn't figure out how to make it work. So now I know she can do it. You are the best. I would have recognized just Chele, for the record! LOL Luv ya.

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  8. "I now have days to do whatever my heart needs." - Sigh...that is what I need. A day every week to do whatever my heart needs and let go the binds of what needs to be done. This inspired me, Jo. Thank you so much for it!

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  9. You paint a nice picture of midnight. I also get up every night at midnight, my second trip to the bathroom. I'm old ya know! Doil

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  10. @Cherie...your day will come. I have been through the job, kids, obligations part of my life and now I am at the rewards part. Don't be in such a hurry to get here that you miss all the blessings of youth. C: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I love that.

    @Doil...How sweet of you to comment here! I love that you read my stuff. Us old foggies need to kinda support each other, ya know? Mike's mid-sleep break is 1:10 am almost every night, makes me smile everytime I hear him hit the floor. <3 u

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  11. Terrific post! I love your writing.

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  12. This was very beautiful to read. Thanks. I too, cherish moments I still have with my mom. As a matter of fact, I pick her up tomorrow at 9 am...I'm taking her to Target to buy a Bistro table and 2 chairs she wants for her new condo, and Mcdonald's for lunch with the kids. (She loves their little burgers). I am a work before play kind of person too. My house has got to be cleaned and chores done before I venture out. Take care!

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  13. Another retired person. You are so lucky! It's nice to be able to do what you want everyday.

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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  14. Jennifer...thank you so much. I appreciate your thoughts and your time.

    Beachlover...My Momma will be 89 in October and she lives 2 miles from me in her own beautiful 2 bdrm apt. We get to hang out several times a week sometimes and always 2 days belong to us, that's our rule. C: I love that you took time to leave a comment, I love reading them.

    Joyce...I don't get to do what I want, necessarily EVERY day, but most of the time for sure. I love retirement. Nearly 7 months in and I haven't looked back. Thank you for taking time to share with me.

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  15. Ok, here goes...Thanks Jo it's 11:49pm. I, too, enjoy my night hours alone. No pnone, no one 'needing' me and the ability to just enjoy my time. Enjoyed it keep up the good work.
    Velda

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  16. Velda...Thank you for posting! I love this. I know we share the late night alone time thing. It's always been such a special need for me and only in the last few years have I discovered how many people are out there being alone with me! C:

    It's midnight btw! <3

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  17. They usually say (I don't know how much of it is true) that the time of day you were born will determine the kind of person you are. ie. a night or morning person. I was born at night, but find myself a morning or a midday person at times. It all depends on the day.

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  18. "choose to just BE" YES!!!!!!!

    LOVE THIS...so relate to all of what you wrote. I know when i get inspired.."there is no time" and then i find myself yawning and its 3 am!!!! : )

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  19. @Diana...That's interesting! I had not heard that and now wonder what time of day I was born. I'll have to check by bc or ask my mom, she might remember, I was the last and the best! LOL Thanks for sharing!

    @Brenda...It's always good to have time to just "BE" I think. 3 a.m. has seen me sitting right here hands on the keyboard and brain running full speed more than once! Most of my books pages were filled in the wee hours past midnight.
    Thanks for taking time to share, I thrive on feedback! C:

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  20. as a Buddhist (that totally curses a lot. Dalai Lama pretends he doesn't know me..) I am totally about being present and just 'being' - it's definitely a choice and personally, I love nothing days. I just can't do it at midnight because I'm a giant scaredy cat! ;p

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  21. @LadyHAHA...Couldn't agree more. Glad you enjoyed it.

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