I remember it was quite a busy week sometime ago. I was mentally and physically spent after working like a mad dog in the office. I had a long list of to do’s that seemed almost impossible to finish and at the same time kept getting longer as the day went on.

It was like getting caught in a loop of unfortunate luck that there’s no use moving backwards or forwards. A hamster on a wheel. That was what it felt like. I mean, of course, I was working my absolute best at whatever task came my way. I treated it with dedication and precision. It felt good no matter how tiring it was back then.

But then I realized that my off-duty hours were getting the short end of the stick. Come weekends or after-work, I had to double my efforts making sure that I am using my time as efficiently as possible and that I am enjoying every waking minute out of it. Well… I did, in fact, managed to do some of that. But then, truth be told, it wasn’t always the case. You see - I also had to catch up on my sleeping. In stereotypical Asian perspective, that’s considered lazy and even, to a worst extent, the subject of online shaming. An idea I really objected and rejected. So let me be the first, maybe in some ways, to admit the fact that (A) I needed my sleep and therefore entitled me to catch up on it; and, (B) I really don’t care what the opinion of a faceless majority thought about what I do or don't do. My life belongs to me.


So there I was... all glassy eyed with my book on the bed, waiting till the sleep fairy will take me someplace interesting and enchanting good enough of a story to be told and retold. Then suddenly, I started drifting away, weightless into the air – my feet barely touching the ground.

I didn’t even remember closing my eyes at that point. I suppose I was too distracted with my aching muscles that my mind took the liberty to head off to slumber land.

[To be continued… This is the first part of a two-part series. Watch out for the second part of this story!]

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Photos via Danbury Library, Florian Simeth