Make Your Bed Every Morning

No, I didn't fall out of bed and hit my head this morning. In fact, Michael had to work at 5am so I was sweetly woken up by loud banging around on the cabinets, bright lights shining in my eyes, and Tilly pouncing on my back because she wanted to play with the laser on Michael's belt. Hehe. I know in the mornings we all press snooze at least once and would love to have "just 5 more minutes" of sleep. I am always in a HUGE hurry during the week to get dressed so that I have enough time to stop at Mickey D's to get a Dr Pepper (my one of 6 for the day...) but every single morning...when Michael isn't on nights and still snuggled in our bed, I wake up, get ready, and then make our bed.

Over the Christmas holiday, I had a sleep over at my grandparents with my amazing aunt Joann who I absolutely adore. She lives in California so we don't get to see each other a lot but I love having conversations with her because she always puts things into perspective. I like to tell myself I am a lot like her but seriously she's one of those people that when you are around them there is just a sense of calm. Well, we both woke up pretty early one morning and I had the bed made by the time she was done eating breakfast which got us talking about how we both like to make our beds every morning.

Meet Aunt Joann... So thankful for her

 

This got us started chatting about why we do this every morning. For me, it's routine and easier for me to get dressed and start my day if the bed isn't a huge pile of sheets and comforters. But she brought up such a good point. She said every day she makes her bed because she is setting the day up how she wants it. When we wake up in the mornings, it is our choice how we are going to start the day, which in turn determines how the rest of our day will go.

Are we going to start it off running around like chickens with our head cut off, the bed full of the clothes that didn't look just right that morning, and the sheets in a big pile?

 OR

Are we going to start the day calm, with a neatly covered bed, ready to tackle whatever might get put in our path that day?  

 

It seems crazy that a made bed can help start the day off right but I truly think it does, at least for crazy, OCD people like myself. I have had this mantra since I lost my dad... When people ask me how I get up every morning with such pain surrounding my heart, I tell them that I wake up every morning and my heart and brain together decide what kind of day I am going to have. Sometimes I wake up and feel sad, so I spend the day lost in grief, while on other days, I wake up and just feel thankful to have my dad for the years that I did, even if it wasn't long enough. I remember the good instead of the sad, but the morning sets me up for what kind of day I am going to have.

 

When I wake up in the morning and take the time to make my bed, get myself settled into this new day, and start the day of with a smooth, clean slate, it makes for some of the best days with my little friends, my little family, and myself.

 

Now go make your parents proud and go make your bed! Start this Saturday off with a bang and enjoy this beautiful, new day that will never come again!