I'm Back!

It's true. I spent the last four days out and about in Northern Greece visiting Thessaloniki, Pella (where Alexander the Great launched his campaign), King Phillip II's burial tomb, Meteora (wow), and lots of other places. Another trip to add to my recent list. I'm getting an embarrassment of experiential riches here! I'll be sure to update on the trip itself more as time passes, but right now I'm going to fill out a meme for my friend Peter over at The Buddha Diaries. I'm a bit travel weary, so I need something not so intense for the evening.

1) How do you sleep at night?

Is your sleep affected by the national angst? Do you drop off easily, as you always did? Or does it take a while to get to sleep?

For starters, this meme is pretty focused on the economy in the US and how it effects us personally. I'm not in the States right now, and I also don't have any financial investments that would be effected by the problems. I'm also pretty aloof as far as the ways of the world. Anyway, rest assured that though I'm not in the states, the economic crisis is global and I hear about it every day. People are hurting everywhere.

With regards to sleep, the crisis itself doesn't effect my sleep so much because I don't really think about it. I don't necessarily drop off easily most nights, but it's never much of a struggle.

2) What strategies, if needed, do you use to get to sleep? Pills? Sheep? Late night television shows? And/or...?

I have a developed a few strategies. The first thing that keeps me awake is if I'm worried about something or haven't finished a task, so sifting through that (whether it be just in my head or actually doing something) comes first. Next, I'll find something mental to focus on. Typically I'll run through something monotonous like a ballet barre routine or mentally going over guitar scales. Typically those hypnotize me to sleep. If not, it's likely that there's something wrong with my diet and I'm going to suffer through the night.

3) Do you wake up in the middle of the night, plagued by obsessive thoughts?

Staying asleep is more difficult for me than getting to sleep. Sometimes I wake up from nightmares I can't explain (typically once a week). Sometimes I have to go to the restroom. Lots of times I wake up because of chronic back pain from an injury I got from high school sports. I'm a very light sleeper. Typically I wake up about four times a night for various reasons.

4) What strategies do you have to get back to sleep?
Since I'm almost always involved in some vivid dream, I find that trying to sink back into that dream by concentrating on what was happening brings me right back into dreamland. If that doesn't work, it's back to the strategies outlined above.

5) Are your dreams affected? Are they more anxious than before? Do they wake you up in a sweat? Or are they peaceful, innocent, undisturbed by the general malaise?

I almost never have "peaceful" dreams. There's always some kind of action going on. Lots of times it's a zombie dream (still never figured that one out). Other times it's got something to do with someone I know having some kind of problem I have to deal with. Even when it's not a nightmare-ish dream, it's always bright, brilliant, and detailed. I suppose my mind's always at work!

So there are my answers! Not sure if they're exactly what you're looking for Peter, but it was a fun exercise! Hmmmmmm.....who to tag.....

I tag:
Lady A from Xanga,
Shanna from Almost Finally,
Jess, my sister, from 20 Something and Not Counting,
Anyone from Every Square Inch that might be interested,
and Bill Pershing from Life Interrupted

On a related note, Bill and I are starting a new joint blog that kicks off in just a few days (March 1). Back Porch Conversations, as it is called, is going to be a Christian blog focused on opening up conversations between groups that typically aren't prone to dialogue, discussing theology, and whatever else strikes our fancy. Be sure to check us out! We're likely to have lots of special featured guest writers including guys like Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, etc. Look forward to seeing you there!