Upside-Down

For a few weeks I was having problems sleeping. I would go to bed and stare at the ceiling or out the window or the inside of my eye lids. It is frustrating not being able to sleep. I just felt like I was wasting time. Even though I don’t go to bed early in the first place I was staying up even later and later in to the no longer wee hours of the morning. I would peel myself off the couch at around 4 am, slide under the covers, close my eyes and wait for the sandman to do his job. I guess he was off sick or something.

I would lay there in the dark staring out the window. The view was another building. Most of the lights would be out but there would be a few still on. Insomniacs like myself would be watching TV or on the computer in the middle of the night waiting to be taken away to Dreamland with little or no luck. My mind would become occupied with these people. What was keeping these shadowy figures up at night? I would weave stories of espionage, or criminal activities, or alien domination in my mind. But soon my brain could not keep up with these complex tales, the lack of sleep draining my mind of creativity.

I began to focus on what was on the screens these people stared at. It was 3 or 4 even 5 in the morning and I knew there was nothing worth watching on because that was really the only reason why I bothered to go to bed. The late night talk shows were done, the good adult swim shows were done, everything I had to watch on the time-shifting channels were over, and everything else was either infomercials, reruns, or porn. I don’t have the porn stations so I would just go to bed. Whatever they were watching was much more exciting than whatever I had access to. I couldn’t actually make anything out but it seemed like something was going on. Well one person was playing games for sure. I never figured out what game it was but the unmistakable stat screen would pop up on their 40”+ flat screen periodically. I tried to figure out what everyone else was watching to no avail. There would be flashes of faces, movements, explosions, cars, and whatever but it was too far away for me to pick out details and features to come to any conclusion.

These people became my companions in the sleepless night. They made me aware that I was not the only one unnecessarily awake at that time of night. Even thought I did not know them they kept me company in the dark.

As the days went on with little or no sleep I had to abandon these people, no longer occupy myself with their activities and focus on the sleep I desperately needed. I would lie in bed and forcefully keep my eyes closed chanting “sleep” in my head willing it to come on but nothing. I would toss and turn, take a quick peek saying hello to my “friends”, and turn again.

One night I sat up. I could take the pointless activity of lying down no more. I looked out the window and looked up into the black sky. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, I wasn’t thinking anything or coming up with preposterous tales, I just needed to sit. But sitting is not what my body wanted. It wanted the rest I, for some reason, was not able to provide.

I was about to lie back down when I came up with the greatest idea I have ever had. It was simple and I am not sure why I had never thought of it before. I picked up my pillow and put it at the foot of the bed, swivelled myself around, and put my head down. The view out the window was completely different. There was a park, the road way, a mall, and the moon presided over it all.

There was something calming about the new view. It put me at ease. I closed my eyes and sleep finally came. It was the deepest, most replenishing sleep I have had in an incredibly long time. When I got out of bed the next morning I was refreshed, my brain worked, and I was ready for the day even though I didn’t really have anything to do.

Sleeping “upside-down” seems to be working because since then I have not been having any problems. I go to bed when I am tired and sleep the whole night. I guess I will sleep this way until it doesn’t work anymore. My cat is a little confused about the whole thing cuz he used to sleep by my feet now he is greeted my sleep breath. He doesn’t seem to mind though.

So my suggestion to people who are having problems sleeping is just changing your position. A new place or view may be just what you need.

Tra

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Tra

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