Grateful for a Bed

I am grateful for a bed, a cozy place to rest and sleep peacefully. In the few times I have slept on the ground, I have always remembered the cold and hard earth, undeterred to mold to the shape of flesh and bone. I too have remembered the harder feelings that poor sleep breeds, the frustration and fatigue. I remember the cranky mornings, the snap judgment of contempt, and the great impatience. I remember the harsh words to strangers and the even harsher thoughts of loved ones. I remember the sticky, dark, and suffocating anger, the hate that is conceived in sleep deprivation.

I am grateful for a soft and warm mattress, the sheets that feel cool to the touch, and the pillows that caress my head. I am happy to find solace in sleep, the respite in both bodily and mental tension. It is true that the physical world often precedes the mental one. Thus, a comfortable bed manifests a calm mind, which relaxes the body. I am thankful to have this relaxation, the ability to be calm, if only for a night. I thank the humble bed.

I am grateful for a bed.