A morning after a good night’s sleep allows me to fully experience the happiness and joy of being alive. When I water the olive and blueberry plants in the balcony planter, I can keenly sense even the slightest growth change since yesterday. It’s as if they are trying to tell me something, gradually growing or the buds slightly swelling. The olive leaves look deeper green than usual, and the blueberries seem to shine just a little brighter. What once seemed like a small, unnoticed change now feels like a vibrant presence.
When I take the dog for a walk, its joyful wagging tail as it runs around makes even the most ordinary movements seem special today. The dog’s steps are light and, with each glance it gives me, it feels as if it’s saying, “I’m happy to be with you.” I can feel the golden, overflowing sunlight shining on me as if it’s blessing both of us, making the dog’s fur shimmer in the light.
When I do push-ups or squats at the park, I feel as if I could do twice as many as usual. The energy rising from deep within me makes me feel stronger than ever before. At the same time, I can sense the vitality of the dog and the plants around me, feeling like I am filled with energy, as though I’m one with them. It’s as if I could accomplish anything today, with an overwhelming sense of strength and boundless energy.
Even the most ordinary, uneventful scenery that normally doesn’t catch my attention looks completely different after a good night’s sleep. The blue sky is more vivid, and even the little stones on the street corners seem to be an important part of the world. The sounds around me feel pleasant and harmonious, and just walking through the moment brings a sense of fulfillment. What usually seems like a mundane landscape glows with new life after a night of restful sleep. I feel as though I could overcome any challenge, as if I could do anything and everything.
“Food,” “earning money,” and “building status” are all important and necessary for our lives. However, even if we achieve these things, there’s something we can never obtain—something that sleep gives us. It’s the moment when both the mind and body are completely reset, when we don’t have to think about anything and can just experience peaceful rest. This sense of fulfillment that we get from sleep cannot be bought with money or status, and no material wealth can replace it. It’s the greatest gift that sleep brings, something no effort can ever substitute. Sleep is, for me, the highest gift freely given.
As I savor this precious time, I come to the realization that the driving force in life isn’t “eating,” “making money,” or “building status,” but above all, “quality sleep.”
