The alarm sounded at 6:00 AM.

Shhhh, with your bad self. That’s a big deal for me. Well, perhaps not the alarm part, but rather, what came next.

I hit snooze once. Only once.

Then, I focused on my feet. “Put them on the floor.” And did.

Having listened to Day 1 of The Early To Rise Experience: Learn To Rise Early in 30 Days (Early To Rise Series) yesterday, I knew what was in store.

Words like “believe” and “expect” lingered from that first read of the material. Upon giving the audio lesson a second go at 6:10 AM, I was encouraged. For I had conquered the one minute it takes to believe, expect, and get my feet on the floor.

I immediately wanted………….coffee. 

Or rather, the feel and smell of coffee.

I felt as if the only way I could do what I had set out to do, at a time when I was usually still in bed, would be with a strong cup of coffee.

But, George wasn’t up yet. And I didn’t want to release the hounds. (Literally.)

So I dressed for my workout, and then settled into the seat in my bedroom, to read/ listen to Early to Rise, C.S. Lewis, and the Compound Effect

I am writing this at 6:45 AM.

Unheard of. For me.

I hear the sound of runners shoes on the pavement outside as they near the top of Atkins hill. (Yes, locals, we’ve had a few runners call it such since we are now in the habit of hosing them down during races). I hear birds. Cars. The breathing pattern of Zane, who crawled in bed around 5:00 AM.

I’m hungry. And I want that coffee. Even the decaf will do.

I prepared for this morning last night by getting in bed at 11:00 PM, whereas norm is midnight or 1:00 AM. I watched a show on my kindle , which the author suggests NOT to do, but…….baby steps. Here I am. Up. Blogging via my kindle at almost 7:00 AM.

Only, everyone will be stirring soon.

6:10 ain’t gonna cut it if I really want to accomplish everything on my list for my mornings:

· Early to Rise reading and audio
· Devotional/personal development reading
· Blog about Early to Rise
· Read and clear emails, make FB connections, answer correspondence

All without waking the dogs. Which means, no stepping foot downstairs. Which means no coffee.

Tomorrow, I’ll back up the alarm by 15 minutes.

And I’ll make sure that my trusty water bottle is filled, and sitting on my nightstand before I hit the hay. That way, I can guzzle it first thing in the AM rather than going ninja past the pups just to reach the java . . . the DECAF java.

Day 1.

Believe. Expect. It only takes a minute.

Success.

8:21 AM: Having got the family out the door, I’m back upstairs putting final touches on this piece. I was able to wake early without the aid of caffeine. That is important to note. Looking forward to Day 2.

I am also choosing to read the daily selections in the BOOK, not via email (they send me the readings everyday). For email is a trap for me. And once I open gmail, I could totally go down a rabbit hole. Know thyself, right????