Today I
went over to visit a friend who is recovering from surgery, just to sit with
her and be with her for a little bit. While I was there she got tired and took
a nap, so I headed out to the Kitchen table. After a little while, I went into
check on her, just to make sure she was okay – and she was sound asleep, white
noise in the background, and looking so peaceful sleeping there. It was not
only just what she needed, but it made me a little jealous too.
Because I
don't sleep much at night, I very rarely take naps because, well, they really
just mess-up my sleeping patterns even more. But today, I guess because I was
inspired/jealous (and I was tired), so I took a nap.
Naps are
an amazingly glorious thing. And they are good for everyone. Just think about
it:
When a
little kid takes a nap, the kid wakes up happy and wanting to play. And Kid
Naps are good for the parents too (just ask the parent of any 2-year-old) --
even if only for a slight break in the day when the house is quiet.
Dads take
naps, often in the middle of a football game on a Saturday afternoon (more
likely to happen if they are in charge of the kids).
My dad
was a napper. He was our bishop when I was little, and I remember Mom sending
me up to “sit on his lap” – which I now realize was to keep him awake during
Sacrament Meeting. I mean, who can sleep with an active 2-year-old on their
lap. Dad was one of those people that could fall asleep anywhere.
But when
we were little, we would fight having to take a nap. What were we thinking??? I
remember the little mats we made in kindergarten for Nap Time: mine was leopard
print. Even 40 years later I still remember that Nap Mat – and I remember it
fondly.
When I
was a kid, we often went on Sunday drives as a family – often to go visit
friends, sometimes an hour or so away. One of my favorite things was falling
asleep in the backseat of Dad’s Buick on the long ride home. I would wake up a
few hours later, in a hot car, with all the windows rolled down – all sweaty
and warm – and it was fabulous.
And
even within the last few years, when I was working at Tahitian Noni, and my
house was only 1.2 miles from work – sometimes I would run home for lunch. And
sometimes that lunch break would include a 15-minute power nap. Even just a
quick 15 minutes, and I was ready to go back and face anything.
So
today, I got up, went to visit a friend for a few hours, ran a few errands,
sent out a bunch of resumes. And then I started to feel a little tired, so I
went to bed. It was just that simple – I went to bed. I pulled the blankets up
over me, waited until the dogs got settled in, and then closed my eyes – for
about 2 hours! It was amazing!
I woke up
with pillow creases on my face and my hair a jumbled mess, and I was a little
bit groggy – but I felt fabulous. And that is probably the first nap I have had
in the last couple of years – but hopefully not the last. Maybe this
being-at-home and sleeping-in-my-own-bed thing could become a habit.
And
yes, I already want a nap tomorrow.
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