Waking Up

"If you have walked all these days with closed ears and mind asleep, wake up now."

This morning, I am at work early and began the day in a much more active way than I have of late. It has been my habit to get up, make coffee and "wake up" by reading - usually some escapist novel or fantasy. But this morning, I woke up with a sore back and began the day with a few exercises.

The difference was dramatic. I could feel a succession of little jumps in mental clarity and a steady uptake of awareness that came with each repetition of a stretch. At the end of a minute or two, I was more awake than I normally am at the end of an hour of reading. And my mental state had switched from a kind of foggy grumpiness to a firm clarity and a desire for action. Now, at 6:00, I`m at work and already feeling that I have lost time. I think that part of what must be changed is my morning habit of waking up. It`s pleasant but self-indulgent, and sets the tone for the day.