Early Birds

I get up early each morning -- usually between 4 -4:30 a.m. I don't set an alarm clock, I don't drag my rear down the stairs for my coffee.

I am an early bird.

Two times this week I've mentioned this small fact to some aquaintances and received gasps of horror followed by, "Why?!?"

I explain. It's my time alone from everyone else. The world is quiet (including, most importantly, my daughter and my husband). I can sit and think without interruptions. It gets my day off to a peaceful beginning.

They didn't understand, and I'm pretty certain that they hung up the phone with me sure in the knowledge that I'm a complete loon.

My question is this: why is it so much weirder that I get up early, than the folks who stay up until 2 a.m.? When someone mentions that they don't go to bed until after midnight, and then sleep until 9 a.m., do you gasp in horror?

Think of all the quaint sayings out there, complimenting us early birds:

"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

"The early bird gets the worm."

"It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom." - Aristotle

I wrote my NaNo book -- 50,000+ words in 27 days -- before noon each day (with a few notable exceptions).

Mornings are good. Greet your day with a smile, not a groan.