*At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”
So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?
You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.*
Even the stoic philosopher king and emperor of Rome struggled with this too!
And his solution hints at what a deep existential question it really is. To get out of bed you need to realize and come to love your nature and calling as a human being who has been incarnated into this world for more than to just retreat into pleasure.
Literally I cant express in words how true this essay reflects my daily life struggle and the insurmountable task I face to come out of bed .Thankyou for giving me little bits of encouragement
Amazing to think that this something others experience. In the first few moments after waking up I feel this. Usually if I'm up within minutes of waking it's better. Immediately I'm outside and seeing things (usually a morning coffee down at the shop) and some would say "just have one at home" and I could never explain why I hated that. But now I know... because all along I've done this. I go out into the world... it's like ritual. It's a way of getting back at the man...
Phenomenally resonant. Thank you for writing this. Looking forward to hearing more about your personal journey, I imagine it’ll map well onto the experiences of so many of us here (on Substack but also on Earth).
Well written, a delight to read. One reflection: What if the "urge to return to the womb" represents our deepest desire to be held and nurtured by the Great Mother? And if the bed is a symbol of rest, then beyond regression, the actual longing might be need to regenerate and renew?
Loved this, thank you. Actually was the first thing on my mind when I woke up this morning. And I did get out of bed...though not quite as quickly as I could have, hah. Thanks again, loved it
Big Brother, this essay marks another one of your beautiful works. "Getting out of bed is a heroic act" — an interesting, necessary, and true interpretation. I truly agree that, on some days, getting out of bed is like winning a great battle in itself.
Reading your words, "I declared: I choose life. I choose to engage, to move forward," gave me goosebumps.
This work/essay of yours will be helpful to people reading it, both now and in the future. I know my thoughts tomorrow morning, as well as those of others who read it, will be different.
I will try to share this essay with others as much as I can. I know very well that getting out of bed is something everyone struggles with or will struggle with at some point. Having this work to turn to during such moments will be incredibly helpful for them.
Marcus Aurelius:
*At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”
So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?
You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.*
Even the stoic philosopher king and emperor of Rome struggled with this too!
And his solution hints at what a deep existential question it really is. To get out of bed you need to realize and come to love your nature and calling as a human being who has been incarnated into this world for more than to just retreat into pleasure.
That’s deep!
Literally I cant express in words how true this essay reflects my daily life struggle and the insurmountable task I face to come out of bed .Thankyou for giving me little bits of encouragement
this helped me get out of bed, thank you
Amazing to think that this something others experience. In the first few moments after waking up I feel this. Usually if I'm up within minutes of waking it's better. Immediately I'm outside and seeing things (usually a morning coffee down at the shop) and some would say "just have one at home" and I could never explain why I hated that. But now I know... because all along I've done this. I go out into the world... it's like ritual. It's a way of getting back at the man...
Thank you for this post
Phenomenally resonant. Thank you for writing this. Looking forward to hearing more about your personal journey, I imagine it’ll map well onto the experiences of so many of us here (on Substack but also on Earth).
Well written, a delight to read. One reflection: What if the "urge to return to the womb" represents our deepest desire to be held and nurtured by the Great Mother? And if the bed is a symbol of rest, then beyond regression, the actual longing might be need to regenerate and renew?
Very synchronistic, thank you for sharing. PS great logo!
Needed to read this
needed this
I knew I was heroic on my bed 😁
Loved this, thank you. Actually was the first thing on my mind when I woke up this morning. And I did get out of bed...though not quite as quickly as I could have, hah. Thanks again, loved it
Big Brother, this essay marks another one of your beautiful works. "Getting out of bed is a heroic act" — an interesting, necessary, and true interpretation. I truly agree that, on some days, getting out of bed is like winning a great battle in itself.
Reading your words, "I declared: I choose life. I choose to engage, to move forward," gave me goosebumps.
This work/essay of yours will be helpful to people reading it, both now and in the future. I know my thoughts tomorrow morning, as well as those of others who read it, will be different.
I will try to share this essay with others as much as I can. I know very well that getting out of bed is something everyone struggles with or will struggle with at some point. Having this work to turn to during such moments will be incredibly helpful for them.
Thank you, Big Brother :) for writing this.
I really needed this, thank you friend 💚