Why Aren't Women Sleeping

Talk to any women and you'll find that they're not sleeping very much these days. Age may have something to do with it; but I'm not so certain that it does. What I do know is that there are millions of working women, in particular, who are not sleeping the recommended 7-8 hours a night. Other than that they're healthy, energetic and bright. So, what's going on here. Well, if you mention it to a doctor, they want to prescribe something because it's something that has to be cured right? In some cases it may, especially if alertness is a critical part of your job such as surgery or driving a truck.

But, hey we still don't know why we're not sleeping. I have a couple of theories. I believe that there is a level of energy that we are not expending that is craving to be released. Perhaps it's a book that needs to be written or a song that needs to be sung. It may be a soliloquy that has yet to be recited.

That's it-- unexpended, bottled up energy. Or it may be an unfulfilled dream that won't let you rest until it has expression in your life--a business that you've always wanted to have, the trip around the world or the missionary work in your own neighborhood or in Africa. It may be as simple or as difficult as the conversation you have been trying to have with your significant other for over ten years. Wake him up and make him hear it; and don't let him interrupt you. Stop being so darned submissive...is that it? Or is passive a better word?

Paul Lawrence Dunbar wrote about the dream deferred, but I believe there are more women that live that poem than men, regardless of race! We're so busy trying to make a smooth path for our children and not bruise the male ego that women are too often putting themselves last. It's noble, but it is absolutely unhealthy. Look at the obituaries. They say that women outlive men, but boy are they going through hell just to stay on earth. Too many young women are being treated for stress related disease (of course the majority of diseases are stress-related). But that is for another blog.

Women, before you start taking sleep inducing medicines, spend some time listening to that inner voice that won't let you sleep. And then try to give it what it wants and needs. If your doctor doesn't ask you that question before prescribing something for you, then politely accept the prescription and tuck it away, until you find one who does.

Spring Followed Fall and Then What?

It's March and spring has sprung. In some geographic areas flowers are in full bloom and in others, the big thaw is just beginning, but it is spring nonetheless. There are some things in life, actually many things that we can predict; but it's the unpredictable that gets us. Listen, no condition is permanent; and the only thing that is constant is change.

Eventhough, we consciously know that what I've said is true, emotionally, people tend to resist change, which is to be expected. But just because resistance is expected, doesn't mean that it's healthy. I've seen a sign published a couple of times: Change or die. If it sounds dramatic, it is; but dramatic or not, it is the absolute truth.

When you are in a state of resistance, your muscles restrict. Restricted muscles and bones break and sprain more easily. Tension around your heart is absolutely not good. I've read that more men have heart attacks after the loss of a job either through unemployment or retirement than any other time. Why? It's because they have not accepted the change. Is change difficult; it can be. But it's not the change that's the problem; it's our reaction to it; that's the problem.

Do self-assessments to see how you're really feeling' about things. Do some self-talk like: change is good; I can handle this; everything works together for good and finally--Thank you for this change in my life; I know that it is good for me.

Say these things when you wake up, when you shower, when you go to bed, when you're driving your car. Take deep breaths and do somethings differently that you don't have to do, like walking backwards in a safe place of course. Try reading left to right, while holding a poster up to the mirror. There is nothing more natural than change; and yet it's killing too many of our friends and family members. Don't kid yourself. The accident didnot have to happen; you just weren't paying attention. You were still lamenting about something that was in the past. Let it go!!

We can do this. You can do this. Just wait a little while, this will go away and some other change will come in its place. Go ahead, put on your left sock first. I dare you!