Blog 3188 – 07.24.2024

Early To Bed and Early to Rise

The above quote is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, yet he was probably not the first to coin that phrase, though it was quite popular in his day. It was his habit to go to bed by 10 pm and rise at 5 am to which he attributed his productivity. The benefits of a good night sleep and an early start do increase the odds of achieving health, wealth, and wisdom.

Of the prodigal son in the parable it says that he wasted his inheritance on riotous living. Imagine that a young person staying up late partying with friends till the wee hours of the morning and quickly running through a small fortune. It is a sad, yet all too familiar story.

Most mischief it seems can be avoided simply by going to bed early and I have found my most inspired and best work is usually done in the early morning hours while the whole world is fast asleep.

After a childhood of early bedtimes it is natural for adolescents to rebel and want to stay up late and sleep later setting a pattern that often becomes a life-long habit.

I, on the other hand, joined the Army right out of high school and two of the patterns that Uncle Sam helped me set were early to bed and early to rise, and maintaining short hair. Over the ears I have found the utility of the first and made several attempts at dropping the second and letting my hair grow out. I may yet do the later, but I am content that for me at least the wee small hours of the morning are too valuable to fail to avail myself of them.

Early morning is my favorite time of day, especially after a good night’s sleep. Enjoy your day.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White