I used to start mornings most disastrously. The moment I opened my eyes, I would instinctively reach for my phone and check for any messages or notifications. I would reply to messages before I had even brushed my teeth. So yes, if you had received any message from me in the morning a couple of years or so ago, know that I sent it with bad breath.

I would then start scrolling my social media accounts, checking out the latest developments of the day, from current events to the adventures my early riser friends have already had before I even had breakfast, if I ever did get to breakfast.

It went on like this for years. Naturally, I was always harassed in the mornings. Without knowing it, I had let everybody else set my agenda for the day every day. I found myself running after their deadlines, struggling to finish their deliverables. I vaguely remember eating a proper breakfast, and lunch was usually hectic and harried. When you start off your day harassed, you won’t end it in peace either.

What changed? I got sick, which if you looked at my lifestyle was inevitable. I had a hypertensive episode which forced me not only to slow down but also to evaluate my habits, one of which was keeping a crazy morning routine.

A makeover was necessary. One of the first things I did was take it slow in the mornings. You’d think something as simple as slowing down would be easy, but hyperactive me struggled. It took me sometime to even get myself breakfast. I had skipped breakfast for years so what’s a day, right? It helped that I started to take an interest in gardening again. I would go out to the garden first thing in the morning, saying hi and hello to my plants, and it set the rhythm for my day.

I avoided answering emails, although the temptation to scroll down feeds is just too much. I tell myself that I’m checking current events, hahaha. I am weak, I know.

I also started taking breakfast, mostly cereal and milk as it seems I cannot eat too heavy in the morning, except when I’m on vacation at a resort with buffet breakfast, which is weird.

Last but not least, because it’s the first thing I do the minute I wake up, I sit up, say the Lord’s prayer, and give thanks for having been given another day to write, cook, eat, move, rest, love, plant seeds, mind my manners, be kind, and make my world just a tiny bit better than it was yesterday.

May we all have better days ahead!

Cereal photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

Table photo by Laura Davidson on Unsplash