Counting Sheep ‘Cause I can’t Sleep

I’m counting sheep ’cause I can’t sleep.

Instead of doing my nightly rituals that help me relax – I did what I should not have done – turned the computer back on. Read the book I’m currently enthralled with, Freshwater Road, earlier in the evening. Decided to take one last look at email and then, why not, visit a couple of websites and blogs, and before you know it I’m in the computer zone. The computer gave me a second wind and set my mind to racing.

If I drank I’d have a nightcap. (Don’t drink, don’t smoke…what do you do? Remember that bouncy song?) Don’t feel like making the effort to warm some milk and drink it.

At least when I finally do lay down, after this entry is finished, I’ll sleep straight through the night. No tossing and turning or clock-watching for me. It is a kind of hell when you want to sleep but instead find yourself tick-tock, tick-tock, watching the clock. I’ve read advice that insomniacs should not watch the clock – in fact they shouldn’t have a clock visible to them. You also shouldn’t toss and turn in bed – that makes your bed the enemy. Rather, it’s better to get up and do something until your body slows down and your mind relaxes.

I’ll stretch a little and do my breathing – in, two, three, four and out, two, three, four. I’ll banish the worries about people and stuff. I’ll pray a short, all-inclusive prayer. I’ll push back the “remember to do tomorrow” ideas.

I n h a l e. E x h a l e. i n h a l e e x h a l e.

Sleep…I’m getting sleepy.

Nighty-night.