Is Sleep all that important?

As a child we are put to bed early. Our parents telling us that we need to get our rest so we can be awake for the fun things that we had planned for the next day, so we did as we were told. Well some of us.

I would pretend to be asleep so that once my parents were back downstairs I could sneak out of bed.  I would tip toe to the top of the stairs and inch my way down to the middle which gave me the perfect view of the living room, and the TV. I thought I was so smart until my sister told on me.

Then as a teenager we would pull all nighters to study for tests that we've known about for months, but never found the time to get ready for. We would ingest massive amounts of caffeine, and eat anything sweet that wasn't hidden. Those were the good ole days because we could stay up all night and still feel great the next morning. We were cocky enough to tell our parents that they were wrong. We didn't need sleep to have fun.

Then we grew up and moved out. We would work all day, party all night and then take a nap and do it again. We were like super hero's with special powers. Who needed sleep? Not us.

Then we had children and we realized our years of all nighters were just practice for the rest of our life. And to think, our parents just called us irresponsible, what little they knew. We were just practicing for our future.

Sleep is the one thing that we need, yet on many occasions get very little of.  But we move forward with life. We take our naps, pass our tests, be invincible as a young adults, learn how to take care of a newborn in a walking zombie state, and have them survive.

What this all means is that we learn to adapt. Life does not come with an instruction manual. We make mistakes, and learn from them. We just figure it out as we go along.

                                                 If it was really that simple.

That's how my writing career has been so far. I've taken many paths, figured out what works, and what doesn't and what is just not for me. I've taken on too much, and pulled back to re-group then ventured back out to find out what path works best for me.

Right now I'm working on a story that has caused many sleepless nights, but since I work full time, write part time, have five children and a farm filled with animals that insist on a clean barn, and daily food, sleep is not high on my priority list.

So sleep a little, and live a lot. You only have one life, don't waste it on your back, spend it on your feet enjoying every possible minute.

Here's an excerpt from my next book, Last Chance to Run.

 The footsteps faded behind him and he was alone with the woman he loved. A crushing pain shot through his chest. Her breathing was so shallow, yet rapid and beads of sweat rolled over her temples, soaking into her hair. Brushing his fingers along her cheek, he whispered.

 “You are my love, my life, my forever.” Her eyes fluttered and her lips opened.

“Jake?”

Her voice was a faint whisper, but he heard his name. He froze as she raised her shaking hand and feathered her fingers across his cheek. The heat from her touch set off a spark that jolted his heart. Then her hand fell back onto the bed. A tear escaped from her eye and his heart ripped in two as he bent forward and kissed it away.

“I’m here baby, it’s going to be alright, I promise.” His lips brushed against hers and she stiffened under his touch.

Jake pulled back as her eyes flew open, and she gasped.

Tracy let out a strangled cry as a steady stream of tears ran down her cheeks. She flew up into his arms, locking hers tight around his neck. He pulled her close and rested his cheek on her head as his silent tears flowed.  Her body shook in his arms and he swallowed past the wrenching pain that was tearing him apart. He wanted to pick her up, take her away from this nightmare and make her forget. Beg her for forgiveness.  His grip tightened, not wanting to ever let go, as she sobbed into his neck, soaking his shirt with her tears.

He rocked her gently until she winced. He snapped out of his fog and pulled away, not wanting to hurt her, but she tightened her hold. Two years, two long years and he had to let her go or he’d lose her. He pulled his head back and leaned down, brushing his lips across her cheek.

                “Tracy, you have to lie down. I need to get this bleeding stopped.”

“I can’t, you’ll go away. You always pull away from me in my dreams. Please don’t, don’t let me go.” Her cry vibrated through his body as he held her. His heart shattered into a million pieces as her tears flowed in a steady stream across her flushed cheeks. He knew what he should do, but his eyes met hers and he saw a flicker of light he thought he would never see again. He lowered his lips and feathered them across hers, then he kissed away every tear that fell. He captured the last one and whispered into her ear. “I will never, ever let you go again.” He captured her lips and she melted into his arms. 

If life doesn't get in the way I will have this story complete, and out to publishers by the end of the month. 

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you back again soon.