avatarMelanie J.

Summary

An individual reflects on their changing relationship with sleep, influenced by their youthful exuberance, adult needs, and current passion-driven insomnia.

Abstract

The author recalls their teenage years when staying up late felt effortless due to young love, contrasting it with the necessity for more sleep as they aged. Now, the author experiences a different kind of sleeplessness, driven by a creative muse that keeps them awake at night. Despite the occasional need for extra sleep, they are amazed at how their body adapts to less rest due to their passion, challenging conventional sleep requirements. This personal account is a response to a weekend prompt by 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊.

Opinions

  • The author expresses a sense of wonder and pride in their body's ability to function on limited sleep when driven by passion.
  • There is a clear contrast between the ease of sleeplessness in youth and the struggle in adulthood, highlighting the impact of age on sleep patterns.
  • The muse is personified as a force that disrupts the author's sleep but is also a source of inspiration and creativity.
  • The author acknowledges the conventional wisdom on sleep needs but suggests that personal experiences and passions can alter one's sleep requirements significantly.
  • There is a deep appreciation for the quiet of the night and the creative energy it provides, which the author has learned to embrace despite the disruption to their sleep.
  • The article implies that the journey of self-discovery and creative expression can lead to a reevaluation of personal limits and lifestyle choices.

Sleepless Muse

Weekend Prompt: “I’m in Awe of What my Body is Capable of”

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

At the age of 16, there were some nights where I stayed up for hours chatting on the phone with my secret boyfriend. Secret because my parents had no idea that he existed. At that age, I was convinced I was in love; indeed I was, but only to the level of puppies.

We used to talk about everything, our futures, life, music, family, damn we had some deep conversations. Back then, staying up all night was easy because my body was young and could bounce back from lack of sleep.

However, as I grew older sleep became less of a chore and more of a necessity. I needed at least 6 hours of sleep to function somewhat efficiently.

Fast forward to my current journey, I am experiencing a different kind of love. A love that created a fire that is keeping me up at nights. That fire is my muse and she dictates my current sleeping pattern. I try to fight her every night to allow us some well-needed rest, but sometimes I just give in and let her do what she needs to do.

in the dark of night as the world is still, my muse gains inspiration

See, she has embraced the stillness of the night and the darkness has now become her peace. She enjoys going outside in the wee hours of the morning to stare at the stars for inspiration. Sometimes if it’s early enough there might be birds chirping, and that satisfies her soul. So, I just give in and let it be, she needs that time to gain inspiration and to create.

Photo by Bruce Christianson on Unsplash

My sleep pattern has been interrupted, sometimes I go to bed when the sun is rising in the sky. Occasionally, I get only a couple of hours of sleep, but I get up feeling perfectly normal and well rested. However, there have been a few times when my energy dropped to 0, and my muse allowed me some well-needed make up slumber.

According to WebMD, adults should be getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Well, they need to inform my muse of that because she is ok with allowing me just 2 to 4 hours.

In my past life, if I got 2 to 4 hours of sleep, I would’ve been a walking zombie. It is remarkable how your passion can become the catalyst that pushes your body to unthinkable limits. Therefore, I am truly in awe of what my body is capable of doing. Sleep has now become mind over matter for me.

This is written in response to 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊.’s Weekend Prompt.

Thank you all for reading. And thank you 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊. for creating the space so that we all can revisit stages in our lives, tell our stories, grow, and heal. KTHT has been a rollercoaster, one that I don’t mind riding.

Writing
Poetry
Muse
Passion
Sleep
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