How I Wake Up Happy!

First let me ask you…

1. Do you wake up at approximately the same time every day?

2.  How do you wake up in the morning?  Does your inner clock awaken you?  Kids/pets/spouse wake you up?  Alarm clock?

3.  Do you get around 7-8 hours of sleep a night?

4.  Are you a glass 1/2 full or glass 1/2 empty person?

5.  Are you a happy person normally?

In thinking up the above questions, there are so many factors which can wreak havoc on your mornings, so many variables that I am not sure I can solve your every morning dilemma!  However perhaps my experiences may benefit you in case you need a bit of help in the mornings.

As a former night owl (before children), I had such a tough time changing my ways to becoming a morning person, but now that I’m there, I love it!  It definitely took some time getting used to and it was a big learning curve ~ I mean, the whole early bird catches the worm thing boggled my mind before kids.  As you may know from experience, kids definitely change you in more ways than one!

My elder son was an early riser and until he hit puberty, before dawn was his wake up time and thus became mine begrudgingly.  Now, the tables have turned and it is I who is wide eyed and happily chirping away at dawn and it is he who is dragging a bit in the early morn!  But he taught me a great lesson because every morning when he’d awaken so early, he’d be happy to wake up and start the day and it is by his example (and my other son who has continued the tradition) that I am grateful to report that I Wake Up Happy!

Perhaps contributing to my happy awakenings is the fact that I am grateful to wake up every morning to see the day dawn!  I’ve spent the past 11 years with my health in turmoil so to me, to awaken everyday with a loving family and pets surrounding me is a great gift.  My routine is to wake up to the alarm clock (if my inner one hasn’t already awakened me) which is set about 10 minutes before I really need to get up.  I hit the snooze and then think about my day before I even put one foot on the floor!

I imagine a marvelous day ahead and if I know I have things to do, I imagine them going smoothly, I see in my mind’s eye  my travels safe and without traffic, I imagine smooth sailing in all business issues and I plan out my day to have a happy ending.  I smile to myself knowing that this is my secret weapon ~ I smile as much as I can throughout the day!  So I begin my morning with a smile before I even pull back the covers of my bed!

For me, a few precious minutes of solitude (well, with the cats of course) accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee is the key to a beautiful day so it’s how I begin!  I look outside at the sky, the yard and notice the beauty of nature around me.  I pet the cats and feel the tranquility which nestles around me when they purr.  I need those few minutes every morning so that when the rest of the family arises, I am cheery and full of optimism and organized.  You know the whole refrain, if Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!  So Momma does her best to be happy!

This morning I will admit, I wasn’t the happiest because I awoke with a migraine which has been plaguing me for a few days.  So I curtailed my imaginings and simply sang this refrain in my head,  as I am known to do when I need a little pick me up in the mornings.  There’s something about this song which just makes me happy.  Do you have a happy song that makes you smile?  If not, you can borrow mine!  Do you know it?  It’s  “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”, the song from Oklahoma!

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day. 

I have a beautiful feeling, everything’s going my way!

Shine On!

Keep Smiling!

xo

Music! Music! Music!

Daily Prompt ~ What role does music play in your life?

I’ve always loved music ~ ever since I was little ~ in fact, the first popular song I learned was American Pie by Don McLean and it was the first record that my parents bought for me.  I played it over and over and still, many years later, I can still sing the lyrics!  I still adore singing although my voice isn’t talented enough for more than a church choir!  Well there was that 6th grade duet with my best friend ~ we sang “I can’t smile without you” in front of the parents and entire school at a Spring Concert.  But that doesn’t stop me from singing in the car, in the shower or anywhere else!  I’ve always been a fan of music as I think it serves so many purposes.  In fact, when I searched for the word music in my blog, a bunch of posts popped up and I realized that I do speak of music often.  I guess in the blog-o-sphere we write about what we like!

Music is a soothing balm to my soul, it’s a revved up optimistic powerhouse that jolts me forward when I need a little push in order to scale mountains of challenges.  It’s the soft, tenderness of being loved by another and of loving another soul with your whole heart.  Music soothes my soul like a huge angelic hug when I need it.  It is the merriment which puts a spring in my step when the doldrums arrive.  It is the rainbow of colors which allows me to enjoy all different types of music according to my mood.  Check out my ipod and you’ll find all sorts of music ~ country, classical, rock and roll, classic rock, ballads, latin, musicals, pop, blues, children’s, piano accompaniment, 1900’s to the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and up to today’s music ~ I could go on and on!  The one type which I’m not fond of is Opera…but if it’s what you have playing and I’m with you, then I can listen to it and enjoy it…but it’s not my first pick!

I took guitar lessons as a kid (classical) but it didn’t last…then I took piano lessons and that did!  I could play and get lost in singing to the music so easily…it was just practicing which I didn’t enjoy!  But then, you have to practice in order to play ~ silly me!

Music to me is like breathing…it’s a part of my everyday and something that I enjoy!

So now let me ask you ~ what role does music play in your life?

Shine On and Sing Along!

xo

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