"The Key to Sleep"
For years an idea has rolled around in my head, I have wondered if it is true, or if it is only theoretical.
Before you go to sleep on a normal night, there is a time in which you do not go to sleep immediately. This time is followed inevitably by sleep. My view is that there is a point in time, between these two phases, where something occurs. But what? Bluntly, I think an individual rediscovers the key to sleep. It is a rediscovery because this key is found every night that sleep is not immediate (immediate sleep occurring when no thought at all occurs after closing your eyes). And a key to sleep because when you realize this certain idea, thought, or concept, you are able to fall asleep.
As an example, if the key was to imagine your own retirement, then you would lay in bed thinking about the many things that happened today, the things you want to change, the things you hate about life, the things you wanted to do yesterday, the things you forgot to do last time you were at the gym, and you would continue thinking about these types of things until you thought about your retirement; hence, rediscovering the key. As abstract as this may be, the idea is that you know the key, deep in your memory, but cannot remember it during the period of the day. Once you are able to rediscover the key, you instantly fall asleep and, so to speak, forget it for another day.
The more I lay in bed considering this, the more it seems possible, and the more it seems true. In addition, if you were to accidentally
[re]
discover the key at some point in time during the day, while riding a bike for example, than theoretically, you would fall asleep and collapse without any warning. Whether the fall would wake you or hurt you while you wouldn't wish to be hurt, would all be technicalities. Furthermore, I find it to be highly unlikely that it would be possible to
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discover the key any time other than the perfect time; hence, time to sleep, in bed, on the sofa, on the floor, wherever, but on purpose.
The key is to the metaphorical lock called sleep. Perhaps the key is not a complete concept, but rather a transition between wake and sleep. Perhaps the key is never fully remembered because sleep sets in before it can be finished, interrupting what will never be remembered fully or understood while concious. This daily cycle starts a new, day after day, perhaps never completed by concept, but a complete cycle none the less.
Ironically enough, this idea only comes into my mind while I am lying beginning to go to sleep; I am writing this after getting out of bed. Tonight however, when my key comes to mind I will be unable to get up and write about it, for I will be sound asleep.
On that note, goodnight.
