I think at my age, and others of my ilk, my personal habits are
rather entrenched. It's not like as I close in on the end of my fifth
decade I really want to change a lot of things about myself. Fifty-nine
years of doing the same things is relaxing...well, mostly.
I
have recently discovered a break that many tell me they do often.
Myself? Never, unless I was sick. I'm generally always on my feet doing
something from the time I get up to the time I finally decide I've had
enough and need to go to bed.
I've discovered the wonderful world of naps!
True!
I've never been a napper, except perhaps when I was a small lad
bouncing on Sainted Mother's lap. Since I have no memory of those events
I just assume they really didn't happen. I have always viewed napping
as unproductive; a waste of time. I have things to do and I don't see
that changing any time in the future.
Then, a funny
thing happened. I had a couple minor medical procedures this past year
and I was forced to sit around for two or more weeks at a time. Well,
with at least one of them I could sit, if you get my drift. There isn't
much to do when you're immobile. Napping just kind of happened. I
figured heck, I'll be back to my old self in no time.
As
I headed back to work I would get home exhausted. The moment I would
sit down in my favorite chair, my head would begin to nod just like it did when I was listening
to boring homilies at 8 o'clock mass on Sunday mornings. Those times I
was left in the pew at the back of the church by Beloved Father, the
nods came fast and furious. Unfortunately for me I was often the victim
of an altar boy not showing up and Beloved Father would step away from
his usher duties and I would get 'the thumb'. That meant a trip back to
the sacristy where I would don the black and white shrouds. One can't
fall asleep on the alter in the middle of a round church.
But I digress.
Something
has changed and perhaps it is age which I have been putting off as long
as I can. Coming home from work these days means being tired from work
and the drive home. Plopping down in my leather chair is just an
extension of trying not to fall asleep on the way home. Perhaps it is all the work that comes with moving to a new house and the work that comes with it while one juggles the rest of their day. In the past when
I have had a rare nap I always felt groggy. That has all changed. For
the first time in my life after a nap I feel refreshed.
I must now look at what is to come, a slowing down, a change of pace, or perhaps just thinking I need less on my plate.
Hahahahahahahaha ..... I'm a retail manager in real life ... that's not likely happening soon!