The Miracle of Two Morning Days

The Hispanic Practice of Peace & Productivity

My mother and uncles taking their afternoon paseo in Morelia, Michoacán

Speaking with my friend and fellow writer Grace Sydney Smith this week, she identified her mornings as the best time for writing. The problem though came in the afternoon. The creative juices were not flowing the same. Still there were hours waiting to be seized. “Should I just wake up at 4am?” Grace said filling the room. I couldn’t help but crack a smile seeing a bit of my old self. Then I responded, “What if you could have two mornings?”

During my career as a Software Engineer I was often facing 60-80 hour weeks of work; roughly 10-14 hour days. My best hours were always the ones after my morning workout until lunch. Then my afternoons would be a slow grind until it felt like I couldn’t go any longer. The signal to finally surrender for sleep. I wondered, in startup fashion, if I could have two mornings in one day. I was going find a way to trade that slump for a second wind.

Of course, the answer was in the old ways.

Years ago when visiting family in the city of Morelia, deep in the Mexican jungle, I paid special attention to the Hispanic Holy Trinity: La Comida, La Siesta, y El Paseo. A mid-day meal, followed by a short nap, then a brief walk around town. Then, like a miracle, a second morning commenced. Like having a near death experience, I received a second chance at life. Every. Single. Day.

Upon returning to the United States I continued this ancient ritual. Up before the sun, labor until the peak of the day. Eat, Rest, Walk. Then a second half under the sun as full as the first.

In practice, even with an hour lunch break I found I could make a 20 minute meal, 20 minutes to lay down, then 20 minutes to walk. Sometimes, instead of scheduling lunch meetings, I would schedule after lunch walks if I needed more time to eat or rest. At the end of each day it was as though I had been given two.

If you are at your best in the mornings, my invitation to you is to try La Comida, La Siesta, y El Paseo for a couple weeks. Let me know what you do with your Two Morning Days! My hope is that you will encounter peace and productivity.

Until next week,

-Steven

PS. Friday Library will return. Or not, if you prefer these more playful essays. Let me know in the comments.