It's hard sometimes, I know, when you try to close your eyes
And put yourself into a dream, and waking, so disguise
But sleeping, and then dreaming, means that you are truly free
It's the best thing that you can do, as far as I can see
Oh . . . quiet your mind
~ Great Lake Swimmers
I did not sleep well this past weekend, and I suspect I am not alone in that. The Inauguration and the March, the dread and hope, the depression and exhilaration all conspired to keep my wheels turning into and throughout the nights. And then the added task of trying to sort through facts and alternative facts? I was just exhausted!
But last night, I slept like a rock! (Although now I have to wonder if rocks really sleep . . . or is that just an alternative fact?) I think it might have been the longest and deepest sleep I have had in a very long time, and this morning, I feel great! And I am grateful. Even though I am puzzled by this surprise reprieve from carrying the weight of the world, I am welcoming the rest.
I have tried many things to allow my mind to relax. Yoga, meditation, mindfulness . . . but they end up being things that I pretend to do. I even went to a yoga retreat in Costa Rica a couple of years ago where, yes, I pretended to do yoga. I am not by any means knocking these disciplines; I am just mourning the fact that my mind just can't seem to get it. I don't know how to turn off the static.
But there is one thing that brings me close to that peace. "Quiet Your Mind," from the 2012 release New Wild Everywhere by Great Lake Swimmers, has the gentle power of slowing me down, cleaning the slate, softening the noise. It is my go-to sedative, my own personal sandman. Tony Dekkar's soothing voice, along with Miranda Mulholland's backing vocals and violin, can lull me into a Zen-like dreamstate. I go there willingly.
I know I need a break from current affairs. No, I'm not abandoning ship; I will still do my best everyday to live the politics I espouse. But I'm going to try to be quiet in my head for a little while. Maybe I'm conserving energy for the mission ahead, or maybe I'm copping out. Either way, my mind is going on vacation. Perhaps you will notice in my choice of lyrics coming up. Let's see how long this lasts.
So now I'll send a lullaby and wrap it in a dream
To take the weight from your shoulders and the pressure from your teeth
It must seem like a ghost sometimes appearing from thin air
So take hold of this quiet song, that the night will find you there
Oh . . . quiet your mind
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