I guess I didn’t have enough notice, so I failed to properly celebrate the big day that occurred last Friday.
It was 2019 World Sleep Day, dang it, and all I did was get out of bed at the same time I almost always do on a weekday, drink some coffee and go to work. I didn’t take a nap (I never do) and that night I went to bed at about the same time as usual.
But mark my words, now that I’m aware of the existence of this wondrous 24-hour period, I’ll be ready next time (and the time after that and the time after that and so on).
World Sleep Day annually falls on the Friday before the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere (also known as the first day of spring). It has been organized since 2008 by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society with a goal of celebrating the benefits of “good and healthy” sleep and to draw attention to sleep problems and their medical, educational and social aspects, and promote the prevention and management of sleep disorders
That’s a mouthful for sure, but the bottom line is, the day is designed to promote sleep as something to be appreciated.
Works for me. I’m of the belief that one can never celebrate the act of sleeping too often.
In fact, I feel like it would be a good idea to really get this thing organized, and motivate the world to demotivate for a day. Think of it – every soldier, terrorist, dictator, protester, political activist and criminal could join every factory worker, doctor, teacher, baker, professional athlete and everyone else on the planet in dropping all the weapons, putting aside all the animosity and resentment, leaving important tasks for tomorrow and simply enjoying some good ol’ shuteye.
In my estimation, the benefits to every single participant would outweigh any resulting inconveniences (whether real or perceived). And the possibilities are limitless and potentially life-changing.
In Afghanistan, fighters on both sides could just find a cave or a big rock and kick back without concern of an ambush.
In Brazil, everyone could quit worrying about being mugged, robbed or victimized by gang violence.
In New York City, cab drivers could take a day off, toss a piece of memory foam on the floor of the garage and just saw logs.
And everywhere else, people could just take it easy and lay low for a while.
I’d like to see major television networks all over Earth get involved by having a handful of reporters and cameramen stay awake to share snippets of people sleeping in unusual places or unusual ways. After the word spread properly, that could get very interesting, with folks trying their best to one-up billions of others by finding the oddest spot or strangest position to get 40 winks. It could be some great TV, with guys snoring near the top of half-built skyscrapers and at the edge of volcanically active pits, and ladies sprawled out on idle department store displays and on median barriers of empty freeways.
And hey, if you’re asleep, just set the DVR so you can watch other people sleeping later.
Anyway, how better to get the world to stop acting so dumb than to have everyone crash on the same day.
Yep, let’s all hit the hay with a purpose.
Let’s hang out with the sandman and halt the battle for meaningless supremacy for a bit.
Let’s all just nod off and snooze like we mean it.
Maybe, just maybe, focusing on some extra rest will take everyone’s mind off of all the ridiculous stuff going on for a day.
Of course, with everyone rested up, the next day might be a doozie.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald.
Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.
