Things Look Better in the Morning

Last weekend my family visited the little town of Wallkill in upstate New York for my brother’s wedding. We arrived at the farmhouse we’d rented late on Friday night. The baby hadn’t slept in the car, so I thought he would crash quickly, but he did not. He fought sleep with a vengeance. Since the owners lived in the other half of the house, I couldn’t really let him fuss, so I wound up rocking him for about an hour.?

I know the country song would claim I will miss these moments, but I have to say, not at 10:30 p.m. Not after a long day. I was miserable. I wanted to go to bed. It was not an auspicious start to the weekend.

So I employed that mental trick I often do of picturing myself in the future. I would not be rocking the baby to sleep forever. Eventually he would go to sleep. Eventually I would too. Eventually it would be morning, and things always look better in the morning.?

That is indeed what came to pass. In the morning the sun came up over the most beautiful fall farm landscape. I had a strong cup of coffee and some fresh eggs from the nearby chicken coop. The crisp air felt perfect — and the long hour of rocking had faded into the past as all time passes, like water under a bridge.?

In general in life it is easy to get frustrated as the day goes on. Problems start to seem intractable toward bedtime. But things always look different in the morning. Your morning self will have a fresh perspective. Your morning self will be able to solve problems that your night self could not. The key is to remind yourself of that. Instead of doing anything rash, or giving into despair, just go to bed. For a great many things, a few hours makes all the difference in the world.

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