Roses and Thorns

"You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can be grateful because thorn bushes have roses."

-Ziggy (Tom Wilson)

I woke up today at 4AM. I felt, as I suspect most non-morning people might feel about waking up at 4AM. I found myself tossing and turning in the fraction of the bed that remained to me after my 6'5" tall husband and two grown cats had claimed the rest. (I wish I could say that fraction was even remotely close to 1/2, but sadly not.)

In my stubbornness, and with a flicker of hope that I might be able to get back to sleep, I proceeded to twist and contort my body, believing that maybe if I turned over one more time I'd find that comfortable position and drift back off to sleep. By 4:45, I resolved to just get up.

I collected my books, pens, clipboard, and pulled on a hoodie. I shuffled through our little apartment to the living room, and unceremoniously dropped my stuff on the couch. I turned on the light and turned to see both cats coming to greet me. My older cat, who just turned 16, entered the room and looked sleepily at me. As I scratched his head, the little one of only 2.5 years sauntered in and proceeded to flop down at my feet. Both of them seemed to say "if you're up, we'll keep you company." I pet and scratched both of them, which was met with audible purring.

I settled on the couch and read today's precept. It's almost like the book knew this would happen, because when I read the precept yesterday, I didn't really understand it. However, as I sat and wrote, enjoying the sounds of the world waking up, the company of my cats and the stillness of the morning, I realized that while I was tired, and annoyed at having awakened much earlier than I had planned to, I could choose how I reacted to the circumstances.

I could have easily stayed in bed and tried stubbornly to get back to sleep. I could have been annoyed with my husband, even resentful that he was able to sleep so easily. Instead, I chose to make the best of my situation, and use those morning hours to do things that I typically enjoy during the day.

In this precept, my sleeplessness was the thorn, and my ability to change my reaction to it was the rose. And honestly- there are far sharper thorns on life's rosebush... so I'm pretty lucky anyway.