Secrets of the Universe

Most days, I wake up around 4am for no apparent reason. I used to toss and turn and try to go back to sleep. After 45 frustrating and ultimately wasted minutes, I'd eventually get up and start my day off on the wrong side of the bed. But a while back, I stumbled onto a show on PBS (which I promise you is not my normal viewing b/c I'm not nearly that civilized). But it was Wayne Dyer reflecting on the Power of Intention. It was a complete accident but I found myself sucked into and eventually enthralled by his message. Though clearly not rocket science, I have to say that it has truly changed my life. And in typical fashion, it didn't cost a cent and it's basically common sense. Isn't that true for most things that really matter? So often we overcomplicate things looking for an easy way out rather than just owning the responsibility and solving the problem with common sense - by listening to that little voice deep inside ourselves. But clearly common sense isn't so common - thus the rub - and the beauty of it.

But back to Wayne Dyer, he touched on a subject that hit close to home for me because I've always been a morning person. He quoted an ancient Rumi saying, "The morning dew has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep." He went on to explain that the moment you wake up in bed and wonder if you should get up, you should. That's the time when God or the Universe or whatever you want to call it is trying to speak to you. So the next morning, I tip-toed out of bed at 4am. At first I putzed around looking for something to do around the house. "Put away the dishes" wasn't exactly the secret I wanted the Universe to tell me. So I forced myself to pour my first cup of coffee and then just sit. No kidding. Sit and do nothing. My mind wandered. Frankly, it raced - from thought to thought. But I found myself watching myself. Have you ever done that - been irritated at yourself and then felt you were observing yourself? I have a hunch that's how we know there's more to us than just a body, but that's a subject for another day. In time, I realized those wandering thoughts weren't me. I keep a pen and paper handy to write down anything that needs done so my mind can release it. And now I truly enjoy the solace of that first cup of coffee. With a snoring husband, 2 very noisy sons and one ever-talking 4-year old daughter, I now find myself with the time to truly appreciate my life. And I'm struck by the creative ideas the magically spring into my head. I find myself getting more done in less time and there's just an easier flow to my life.

And that's not to say it always has to be in the morning. My sister is a die-hard night owl and I seriously doubt the morning dew has any secrets that could get her out of bed before noon! But my hunch is that her time for "secrets" is probably 2am - which is absolutely fine. I just hope she takes that time when she's still going strong and the rest of the world has crashed hard to turn off the tv, sit quietly with herself and hear the quiet whispers of the Universe. Again, it's life changing, incredibly simple and doesn't cost a cent. And in an age when gasoline is over $4 a gallon, that's a good deal by any standard.

So what about you? When is the Universe trying to whisper its secrets to you?