Morning Person | Notes Tied On The Sagebrush

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I spotted this funny and very cute cartoon on my Google+ page this morning. I follow Hyperallergic and get their newsletter/email. I am not a “morning person.” One great thing about not having to conform to a regular work schedule of 9-5 or 7-3 or 8-4, which have been like some of my schedules in my past work life, is that I do not have to get up early. My income has decreased quite a bit but the perks have increased exponentially.

Let me list a few.

I get to sleep in, if my husband does not wake me up. He is still an early riser.
I can enter the fully awake state at my own pace. I normally become active gradually if left to my natural inclinations.
I have the freedom to browse websites and newsletters like Hyperallergic at my leisure. This is where I get some of my inspiration to write on issues I feel strongly about or ones that I am passionate about.
I can be more like the real me. Not forced to conform to the needs and desires of an employer.
I can choose what I want to devote my energies to. Like writing, volunteer literacy tutoring, working with special needs kids, staring out the patio window contemplating nature or letting my mind wander.

I have discovered that not being chained to a full-time work schedule is worth more than all the gold I used to get paid to do it.

So there are things to look forward to when you are out of the mainstream workforce after all.

Eva_Gonzalès_-_Morning_Awakening via wikipedia

“What irritates me most of all about these morning people is their horribly good temper, as if they have been up for three hours and already conquered France.” —Timur Vermes

In my full-time working years Saturday morning was a time to relax. To wake up, look at the clock and remember that I did not have to get up early that day. Except when I worked as a Nurse in a hospital or in Home Health. Then I did have to work every other weekend. But on the Saturdays I was off it was a great feeling. Unless I had to get up for one of my kid’s soccer games. Oh those early morning games were not my favorite!

Nowadays, I do have more time off because I am semi-retired and my kids are grown. So usually I do not have any reason to get up early on Saturday. My husband loves Saturday because he is still into the Monday thru Friday work scene. He does wake up fairly early anyway. Sometimes he inadvertently wakes me up which I do not like. I describe myself as not being a morning person.

Not being a morning person means I do not get up with the first light and I am slow to get going in the morning if left to my own natural inclinations. I am not ready for a lot of conversation especially not before my first cup of coffee. It takes me a while to come to full consciousness. Have to start out slow. Gradual. Don’t rush me. Otherwise, grump alert.