30 Days of Writing—Day 5

Of all the options, I chose this one. The others… well, some I can’t imagine, and some are too close to home—and I have reached an age where my responses to the questions aren’t going to change. When I was a child, however, the early morning when we lived in remoter parts invited exploration, before the sun and the heat of the day made being outside intolerable.

Exercise 5: With Age, Comes Wisdom

Two sentences on how I respond to waking up early.

I lie there, having reached out quickly and shut off the alarm on my mobile, hoping it hasn’t disturbed the sleep of my husband, or the child that’s snuck into my bed—again. Gathering my thoughts on what needs to be done, what I will write, and the order each task must be undertaken, I close my eyes, knowing I won’t return to sleep, but will be up in three, two, one...

Two sentences on how I responded to waking up early as a child.

The air is cool and the light is grey, and I might see a kangaroo! Creeping outside, I race to explore the world that waits, given mystery by the early morn, hoping to be back in time for breakfast.

Two sentences on how I think I will respond to waking up early in 15 years’ time and the experiences that have shaped my perspective and responses.

I lie there, having reached out quickly and shut off the alarm on my mobile, knowing it has woken my husband, but that he will drift back to sleep. Gathering my thoughts on what needs to be done, and what I will write, and the order for each task that needs to be completed, I slide quietly out of bed to face the day.

Shapers? My child will have grown and become independent, but getting up early will probably be just as important to me in the future as it is now. I will still write, and there will still be tasks that need to be done, and I doubt my husband’s sleeping habits will change.