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With
the onset of Daylight Saving Time throughout the U.S. — except
for a couple of states that still trust the science — we've
now reached the time of year that is especially challenging for
folks like me who don't identify as "morning people." And there
are lots of us. According to the posts I've been seeing on Facebook,
the popularity of Daylight Saving Time ranks right up there with
Vladimir Putin.
And now I hear the U.S. Congress is considering taking that precious
one hour of extra sleep hostage on a permanent basis by leaving
Daylight Saving Time in place — forever!
Does daylight really need saving? Who are we to tamper with a normal
force of nature like this? Think of the harm we may be inflicting
on the environment — and ourselves! In fact, a recent Business
Insider article links Daylight Saving Time to an increase in car
accidents, heart attacks and strokes. Maybe that's why waking up
to my alarm when it's still dark outside makes me feel like I'm
recovering from a head transplant.
Honestly, my primary complaint is with mornings in general. Although
I appreciate attempts at positivity, I feel triggered anytime someone
greets me with an enthusiastic "Good morning!" Other people leave
it at a mercifully abridged "Morning." These folks get it. They
recognize the time of day but don't impose their adjectives on me,
or maybe they can just tell I'm about to burst into tears.
Some morning people seem to take pride in their inability to sleep-in.
"I'm just a morning person, I guess," they say with false humility.
I actually admire these people. They've accepted the fact that morning
is coming each day, so they figure they might as well be happy about
it. I, on the other hand, feel like rising up in protest about the
unreasonable expectation that I should put on pants before 11:00
AM.
Have you ever noticed that "morning" and "mourning" are homonyms?
This makes perfect sense. For me, both words are associated with
sadness and a big meal to try to make things better.
And speaking of meals, even the word "breakfast" has the word "break"
in it. Whoever coined the word must have recognized that getting
up early enough to eat at that time of day makes people like me
want to break something — fast. Because, deep down, nobody
really wants to eat at 6:00 AM. That's probably why most traditional
breakfast foods are full of sugar, cholesterol, and other delicious
ingredients. It's like we're trying to trick our stomachs into thinking
we're on a food tour at the fair instead of getting ready for work.
Some people might criticize me for sleeping late whenever I get
the chance. They use words like "slothful." Have you ever seen a
sloth? They're adorable, huggable creatures, and even acrobatic
— like me.
Others might even be tempted to quote Proverbs 6:9, which sounds
a lot like my dad when I was a teenager: "How long will you lie
there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?"
Fair enough. I'll admit that morning is my favorite time of day
to miss, and I do take sleeping late to extreme-sport levels. But
instead of focusing on the negative, I like to reflect on Psalm
127:2, which says, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling
for food to eat — for He grants sleep to those He loves."'
See, Dad, God must love me — a lot!
And while I'm on the subject of God's love, I'm forever thankful
that He blessed me with a wife and three daughters who are all skilled
in the fine art of sleeping until noon on Saturdays. They truly
make me proud.
So even if you're a morning person, I encourage you to join the
battle against Daylight Saving Time by sleeping-in from time to
time. Do it for your health. Do it for your car. Your pants can
wait.
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