Did you Say the "M" word?

Mornings are a bit of a controversial topic in the Iler home. Two of us love them, two of us would choose to start the day in the afternoon.

Scott and Erin Iler enjoy different perspectives at their urban homestead.

I have been told by Scott’s mom that he was in the PM kindergarten class because he could not get out of bed so early in the morning for school. Mornings were rough for him. I also have a daughter who prefers to wake up on her own time, get ready without anyone talking to her, and honestly not wanting to converse until about an hour after she is officially awake.

Now, there is the flip side in the Iler household as well. One of us loves the mornings! When my alarm goes off, I get out of bed, immediately go to the front room to open the curtains, heat the pot of hot water for coffee, and check on my indoor plants. I am ready to go and I am ready to chat when the next member of the family wakes up. My other daughter has similar traits. She immediately wakes up, gets dressed, and wants to have breakfast. Our morning wake up routine is quite the opposite of the other two Iler family members.

It can be funny on the weekends to observe this behavior, but on a Tuesday morning when we have to get to school on time, well, that’s another story. So I decided to research a bit about our internal clocks.

According to an article titled “What the Chinese Clock can Tell you About Your Health” by Seth Morris,

The Horary clock or meridian clock, the Chinese medicine clock shows which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) meridians have the most qi flowing through them during certain periods of the day. Qi, or chi, is defined as the body’s life force, or vital energy. So in other words, the Chinese medicine clock shows which meridians and their associated organs and emotions are most energetically active at specific times of the day.

Hmm, interesting. So, I continued to read, because I do believe we have innate clocks that truly tell us if we are a “morning person or a night person.”

According to the Sleep Foundation,

“Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background to carry out essential functions and processes. One of the most important and well-known circadian rhythms is the sleep-wake cycle.”

The article also explained that the circadian rhythm affects the entire body system if a person’s circadian rhythm is off.

Hmm, I don’t think our circadian rhythms are off, but I do think that our rhythms have a bit of a different pattern.

Loving the evenings in the Iler home.

In the evenings, in the Iler Home, it is a flip side. Scott is ready to go, full of conversation, energized, and has a multitude of projects he is working on. I, on the other hand, am completely exhausted from the day, and am settling down to get ready to sleep. I want it to be more quiet, I prefer less noise, not as many conversations, and just want to be more of an introvert.

So, why am I writing about sleep-wake cycles, if you are a morning person or a night person?

Well, if you share a space with someone, you know it’s a lot about compromise, respect, and balance.

I am learning to appreciate the many parts of the day and night.

I used to think it was absolutely absurd that people woke up before the sun rose to enjoy the quietness and watch the world wake up. I thought it was for the retired folks who had a lot more time to enjoy the birds chirping, the sounds of squirrels chasing each other up a tree, and a flicker of daylight peeking through the trees.

I now truly appreciate waking up early and having that solitude to think, to collect my ideas for the day, and to set some intentions for what I have planned.

I also am learning to appreciate that not everyone thinks like me. We are all unique, we all have different traits and characteristics. Instead of reminding half of the family that they are not “Morning People,” I am trying to embrace what they need in the mornings to wake up.

I am also admiring how individuals love the night time. The beauty that unfolds when the moon is rising, the stars twinkling in the sky, and how cityscapes and landscapes illuminate in a completely different way.

4 different perspectives

It all comes down to understanding one another. So, if you find you are a morning person, and your partner is completely opposite. Take a moment to appreciate their perspective.

After all,

“Sometimes a change of perspective is all it takes to see the light.” - Dan Brown