December Detox: When the Universe Opens Doors InsomniBob

Last night I watched Bob's Burgers S15.E22, Insomnibob.

Bob gets inspired by his cookbook and decides he’s going to create a Burger of the Year. One night he rustles awake at 3 a.m., wanders into the restaurant kitchen, and starts experimenting. Before long, 3 a.m. becomes his witching hour.

Waking up early is a doorway into a universe most people never see. Folks avoid rising before the sun because it’s cold, the world feels bleak, and they lean into the “boohoo.” There’s a difference between insomnia, when the brain refuses to shut down and you stumble into mania, and waking up early because something in you is lit with purpose.

Yesterday I sent a voice note to a friend about the seasonal job I worked with him. For two months I got up at 5:15 a.m., caught the 5:31 bus, then the 5:50 train, and clocked in by 7. I never missed a day, and the only time I was late was because of a subway incident (gotta love NYC). That routine taught me something: the time you wake up only matters if there’s purpose behind it. If I can give that energy to someone else’s goals, I should be able to give it to my own.

Today I woke at 4:45. I stayed in bed until 5:15 listening to rainfall on my iphone. I lit the wood stove to warm the house and wrote for an hour. Now I’m writing this.

Don’t run from early wake-ups. There’s too much life waiting. If your body nudges you awake, follow it and do something meaningful with the quiet. Start the day with yourself. There's always something to do. If you crash midday, take a nap or a five-minute reset and keep moving.

Sleep early. Wake early. Everything in between becomes a smooth rhythm once you let purpose lead.

Insomnibob