This might sound a little strange, but bear with me.
Ninety-eight percent of the time, the second I get out of bed in the morning, I IMMEDIATELY start making it.
I pull the fitted sheet tight, eager to feel the lingering warmth from where I just lay. I grab the top sheet, smoothing it out. Its patches of warmth and coolness remind me of the comfort I just left behind. Then, I fluff the pillows — most of them still warm from where my head rested or my arms wrapped around them.
That warmth is physical proof. Proof of what? This is where it gets a little weird but stay with me.
The warmth left behind in that freshly abandoned bed is evidence of my past self. It’s a subtle, almost magical reminder that I was just there, that my presence left an impression on the sheets, pillows, and mattress. This is my daily reminder that everything I do leaves a mark on my surroundings, the people I encounter, and the life I’m building.
Sometimes, I look at old photos and think, That girl would be proud I did x, y, and z. Other times, a memory surfaces, and I wince, wishing I’d been more patient, more kind, more thoughtful. But those photos and memories (somehow) feel distant, like watching a movie about someone else’s life.
The warmth of my bed, though? That’s immediate. It’s right there every morning, whispering to me: Make today count. It reminds me that my choices today need to do two things:
Make my younger self proud
Make my future self grateful
If I live with those goals in mind, maybe when I take my last breath, I’ll hear Him say, “Well done.”
Now that’s a warmth worthy of immediate pursuit, don’t ya think?
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