The Morning Person

I think I’ve figured this out. At least part of it.

This has happened to me a couple of times now. I’ve found myself sitting down on an evening and writing extensively about something that piques my interest. I get distracted for a while. I come back to it and it’s just not there anymore.  Yeah, I had some good points. I even agree with myself on most of them. I may even have been most of the way there with a decent product. But I can’t for the life of me work up enough enthusiasm to do the finishing work that’ll make it good enough to put up. Life has patterns that way. Lots of things enter our views and push us off course. And in my case, they turn me around emotionally. I’m suddenly not invested anymore.

But now I think I know what will get me over that hump. I’ve got to be more strategic with my timing. I’m a morning person. Big time. And I should do my best to exploit that. I’m usually in bed by nine, but up by four. And when people wonder how I can do that (get up so early), it makes me happy to think, “Hey, I’ve pretty much got the world to myself right now.” If you’ve seen pictures from my early-morning rides, maybe you can get a small sense of that. It’s actually quiet – which is hard to do anymore, even in the “land of the morning calm.”

But it’s also quiet inside – in my mind. I have focus. I’m (usually) relaxed. Getting a nice cup of coffee to start the day. No one to answer to. Nothing to stand in the way of my thoughts. And this is where I have to write. I have to use the window I’m afforded to get some kind of coherent piece of work down “on paper.” And then when it stops coming, I’ve got to just walk away. Then repeat. Someone asked me today what I’d do when I retire, and I think this is a start on the plan. Get up early. Write. Get dressed. Go ride. And then face whatever comes for the rest of the day.

I think it’s solid. It should keep me healthy, both mentally and physically. It should make for better reading too. And, actually, it may be time to finally get around to that book…whatever “that book” turns out to be.