Just another day

"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" - Ben Franklin

Well, that would make me sickly, poor and stupid.

Let me tell you how Icelanders use their weekends.  And yes, I can pretty much declare that about 75% of the Icelandic population enjoy their weekends as follows:

• Sleep in till at least 9:30 am (never make a phone call to anybody before 10:00 am).  Most would love to sleep in till 11:00
• Linger around while eating toast and reading the newspaper (if just to see what sales or events to go to).
• Maybe do a chore or two.
• Make your way into town.  There you go to one of the sales/events you saw in the newspaper or just hang out at the Mall (Smáralind or Kringlan) or the flee market (Kolaportið).
• The day would then end with dinner at moms house or hanging in front of the TV.  If you are a little on the wild side you make sure to stay up way past midnight.

But here in Arizona, country folk start their weekends early, just like any other day.  

I was so not prepared our first Saturday here.  I had been told that there would be a yard sale in town that would also be a fundraiser.  I was excited to go. Yard sales are not to be found in Iceland.  That would definitely be something to check out. But little did I know that it meant I had to be up and running at 7:30 am. What? In Iceland I'm barely up at that time on a weekday. 

All good yard sale going folk show up early.  I'm not good yard sale going folk so I ended up showing up "late." Everyone in town was already there (kids and teenagers also) and all the good stuff was gone.  

How does the saying go again? "The early bird get the worm."  Well I guess me and my family have been living to long by the saying "The second mouse gets the cheese."  

Learning to wake up early has been a new years resolution of mine for many years.  I would say this is the time for change.  And my country friends and fellow town habitants are helping me out with that.

Today is just another Saturday and therefore I am up and running by 6:00 am.  How about that?

My daughter A has cheerleading practice at 7:00 am. My other daughter Y has a football game at 8:00 am and my 17 year old son D is still sleeping away all the good daylight like a true Icelander.

I hope to get more out of rising early than just being up before somebody knocks on my door.  

I hope to be able to:

• Be more prepared and ahead of the days chores. Surprisingly enough rushing and being late is more tiring than getting up at 6:00. 
• I would like to hear my thoughts and know my schedule.
• Get my yoga done before the day has past and energy levels are down.  I've notice that then I make up excuses more easily.
• Eat a healthy breakfast. 
• Get spiritually nourished.
• Enjoy a sunrise or two.

So while D is still sleeping my country friends have already milked their cows,

cooked a warm breakfast, 

fed the animals, mowed the lawn and 

even made a phone call or a visit to good neighbor. 

Don't let the sun catch you sleeping.