I use to stay up until 1 AM a lot but find I prefer the early mornings now at 40.
It's odd how that is.
ETA:
I recall a couple of posts on grief, here in this thread and elsewhere, and stumbled upon this quote. As usual, post holidays, I'm more measured and reflective, finding the passing of time frustrating in its unrelenting pace yet encouraged by something learned over the past year. And grief is one of those things:
“Grief is love within the condition of loss. I find many people are in a hurry to move past it these days, thinking it is ‘just’ a wound, an injury. I encourage people to value it and pay closer attention to it..."
I was talking to a friend who commented on the busyness of the holiday season. For me, as a mental health therapist, I often see an increase of struggle for many this time of year. Feelings of loss, sadness, missed loved ones, or even the longing for days past.
But, in the busyness we often want to hurry past grief. Maybe because it's uncomfortable, or no one wants to deal with it. Maybe we don't know how to see past it.
For those struggling with grief, regardless of the source, I would encourage to find a place to pause and reflect, even in the discomfort. Because there is something to be learned there, despite how much it sucks.
Happy New Year!