Luna Lullaby

Oh…it so mesmerizing our little wonderful Moon. It is the Earth’s only natural satellite and sits 238,854 miles from us. It has had quite a few faces over the years including Jackie Gleason’s, Mac the Moon and many others. Men have landed on it and a cow named Trixie has jumped over it. She has made numerous appearances in motion pictures from her first debut in the 1902 silent movie “Le Voyage dans la Lune” to “Moonstruck”. There is music from the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, Clair de Lune by Debussy, Surfer Moon by the Beach Boys and of course the Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. There are quotes galore about the moon but one of the most famous is from the movie Now, Voyager with Bette Davis when she says, “Don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars”.

Besides in Hollywood, the Moon has played an even bigger role. The calendars of the Hindu, Hebrew, Islamic, Tibetan and Chinese are all based on the phases of the Moon. Did you know that it is traditional to assign special names to each full moon of the year? There is the traditional English name and also the name given by the Native Americans. The Moon seemed to have caught the eyes of Aristotle and Galileo who wrote books and books on their findings. Besides being responsible for the tides on Earth the Moon receives its share of blame for odd behavior. In fact the word “lunatic” is derived from the Latin word for moon, Luna. The Moon does seem to have an effect on our emotional balance and people swear it affects their sleep. People complain of nightmares, strange dreams or even sleepwalking.

Moon or no Moon, 70 million people in the United States are affected by a sleep problem. About 40 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder and add another 20-30 million who are affected by intermittent sleep related problems. Nearly seven out of 10 Americans experience frequent sleep problems or insomnia. Insomnia is usually characterized by a difficulty in going to sleep, maintaining sleep or waking too early. All this lack of sleep costs Americans over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave and property damage. Yes, property damage…because as you drive home you are a little drowsy and whoops you miss the driveway and plow over the fence. Count yourself in with the 51% of Americans who said they drove while feeling drowsy and the 17% who actually doze off behind the wheel. EGADS!!!

So what’s an Earthling to do? Well there are some simple steps you can incorporate in your daily lifestyle so that you don’t end up somewhere in a bell tower with a sawed-off shotgun.

• Step 1 – Maintain a regular bedtime schedule including weekends. Our sleep wake cycle is regulated by a “circadian clock” in our brain and the body’s need to balance both sleep time and wake time.

• Step 2 – Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as reading or soaking in a hot tub.

• Step 3 – Make nice with your bedroom. Keep your sleep environment comfortable, dark and quiet.

• Step 4 – Get off that Aerobed. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows. (I must say I have slept on an Aerobed for an extended time and they are quite comfortable in the pinch.)

• Step 5 - Use your bedroom for sleep and sex. (No comment)

• Step 6 – Stop eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime. Eating or drinking too much may make you less comfortable when settling down for bed.

• Step 7 - Finish that exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime. In general, exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep but too late in the day and it will take your body too long to drop its temperature for a restful sleep.

• Step 8 – We all know this one but we all seem to forget. STOP with the caffeine close to bedtime. It will keep you awake. By caffeine I mean coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and certain ice creams. Don’t forget nicotine…it is also a stimulant. Smoking before bed or in bed makes it more difficult to fall asleep.

• Step 9 – No alcohol close to bedtime. It can actually disrupt sleep and cause nightmares. So even though that third martini is calling to you just remember your brain cells would prefer you passed on another round of drinks.

• Step 10- Too little sleep may increase the chance of becoming obese. According to a Columbia University study it found people who slept four hours or less per night were 73% more likely to be obese, possibly because of effects on appetite hormones.

So here is a little poem to leave you with:

Insomnia

I think the moon must be to blame:

It fills the room with fairy flame;

It paints the wall, it seems to pour

A dappled flood upon the floor.

If you want to see the moon close up visit Google's great moon site. It's most excellent. See what happens if you try to zoom in too close to the lunar landscape. Personally, I prefer havarti or gouda or even a nice provolone.

And no matter how many times you stand outdoors on a clear, crisp autumn night or a balmy summer evening how can you not be in awe of the Moon’s beauty? It is one sight I don’t think anyone on the planet ever gets tired of seeing. The picture on my blog this month is the beautiful full moon we experienced in India. I have to say I have captured many moons with my camera but this one was very special.

Ciao,

Angie of the Snow Moon

p.s. Don't forget to visit Self-size.com for the latest in nutritional counseling and fitness tips.