Sleep, Glorious Sleep

For the past couple of years I have been in a constant state of exhaustion. I know that I keep myself pretty busy with activity, but I have never been one to sacrifice sleep for anything. Even in college, I never pulled an all-nighter to study or even to socialize. I could always be found in my bunk, by 11:30pm, regardless of what everyone else had going on. I just need my sleep. I always have. But the thing is, the past several of years I have never been able to get enough. It doesn't matter if I sleep 4 hours or 8 hours, my body feels the same: exhausted!

NO MORE!!!!!

Tomorrow, Lord-willing, begins the process of fixing me; or fixing my problem rather. Tomorrow morning I have a consultation at the Southeastern Regional Sleep Disorders Center which will hopefully reveal what the heck is going on in my REM cycles. I have this huge fear that I am going to join the ranks of my family that have sleep apnea and be forced to sleep with a cpap machine, but at this point I don't care if I sound like Darth Vadar when I sleep. At least I will be sleeping. I would give an arm and a leg to actually feel rested when I wake up in the morning.

I know they were actually singing about food, but I just picture all those orphans in the movie, Oliver, screaming at the top of their lungs "Sleep, glorious sleep....."

I'd sing along.

2009

I'm amazed at just how quickly time passes. Seriously. I've been out of high school for 11 years and out of college for 7 years. It's been almost 4 years since I moved to South Carolina. And to top it all off...dum dum dum...I turn 29 this year! That's just one year away from 30, people! 30!!!!!!

I don't feel old. I probably should, but I don't. Not that 30 is old, but for some reason that number has this stigma on it in my mind. I'm sure when I turn 40, I'll remember with fondness the day I turned 30 and remember just how young I felt "back in those days". But for now....29 precedes 30 and thirty freaks me out a bit.

All that rambling to get to my point that time is short. People always say that and it's so easy for me to forget it, but it is unbelievably true! This is a new year; a chance to start over; a new beginning. Last year is gone with all its pain, joy, and mistakes. I can't go back and change things even if i wanted to. And I definitely can't go back and take advantage of the opportunities I missed along the way. They're gone. But the beautiful thing about this short life we've been given is that every day is new and every new year brings with it 365 days of newness to experience and enjoy.

I've never been one for New Years resolutions, but I decided that 2009 will be different. I've written down a list of goals for myself this year that will hopefully foster movement in my life. I don't want to look back at the end of 2009 and wonder what I accomplished this year or how I grew or how I made a difference. I really want to KNOW I did all of those things. Not that setting goals will guarantee that happens, but I'm hoping it will encourage the process. I'm excited about this year and all that it is sure to hold for me. That Michael Buble song just popped in my head...

"it's a new dawn. it's a new day. it's a new life for me. and i'm feelin' good"!!!!!!