I had a cool vision this morning. It was about a project that I am working on. The vision was very clear and was so amazing that I had to wake up and write myself an email so that I would not forget. When I woke up this morning, I realized that I had not had an experience like that in years. Why?
I have also noted that for the last week or so I have been having more vivid dreams lately. Like suddenly, the have come back after a long absence. What is going on?
Then it dawned on me (literally), I have officially kicked the Caffeine habit. Yup, I have successfully weaned myself off the devil dust. As a consequence, my sleep has improved. Not necessarily in quantity, but definitely quality. I did some research and sure enough, when you experience longer sleep cycles in a deeper pattern then the times when you come up into REM sleep it takes longer and it is a time for the subconscious and the conscious mind to battle things out and hence more vivid dreams. So is caffeine a direct impact on my ability to have longer periods of deep sleep? It certainly seems that way. At least for me.
It is amazing how one particular substance can have a direct and very real impact on your life. I remember when I fasted for a long time, and the first meal that I had afterward was a bowl of spinach. I noted that the bowl of spinach made me sick. Not like a stomach ache sick, but a general negative response. I just became sluggish after a few hours. I laid of the spinach and tried a bowl of raspberries. I felt great. I tried romaine lettuce, I felt great. I tried spinach again, and wam, felt sick. After some research, I learned that spinach produces a very mild toxin to ward off insects. This toxin impacts everyone, just some have a stronger tolerance then others. That was a revelation to me. The people out there talking about sensitivity to foods are not a bunch of crackpots, there is truth to it.
So what else is completely hampering my performance, yet I continue to eat or drink it? Oh, yeah. I remember….SUGAR. The other addictive white powder. Why are all white powders so addictive? Sugar probably is not even white naturally, so do we bleach it white to appear like Cocaine for a reason? Sugar is probably the most addictive substance on the planet. Not the most deadly, but addictive. I think that is my last bad habit. Eating sugary treats. How will I ever quit sugar? I have tried and tried and tried. When I do not eat sugar, I feel great but there is something about the quick energy boost and the taste buds that draw me back in every time. I reward myself with sugar, I celebrate with sugar, I get sad with sugar, I fight with depression with sugar and the list goes on.
Maybe I am too nuts to consider a life completely free of stimulants, maybe I should allow myself one bad habit! That does not sound like the Embrace the Suck attitude!
Anyway, I am back to dreaming and I am glad that I kicked the caffeine habit. My running performance has improved, I have more time in the morning and I sleep better. I also have less junk in my car because the Caffeine habit makes you stop to get something to drink with Caffeine and along with that a bunch of sugary snacks! I no longer sit around thinking about my next break when I can go and consume more Caffeine and more sugary snacks. What am I going to do with all this extra time?
Anyway, for what it is worth, I have discovered great benefit from sucking it up and working hard at removing a bad habit from my life. Not trying to convince you to quit caffeine, but definitely encouraging you to examine what you are consuming and consider what you might be able to reduce or remove in order to improve things for yourself dramatically.
Guy Reams (601)
