I woke up several times this morning.  I awoke once before my alarm, once with my alarm and a final time about ten minutes after my alarm.  It's not that I was especially tired this morning.  On the contrary, I woke up feeling great.  There was no reason in particular for this feeling.  

I could hear the parrots in the early morning hours waking up and starting their day.  I could have gotten up then.  I did not.  I heard the first cars going down the canyon road in the dusky morning light.  I could have gotten up then with no problem.  I did not.  Finally, as I lay in bed breathing deeply and looking up at the paintings on my wall and listing all for which I am grateful, the one thing that was most profound was the simple warmth and comfort of my bed.  There was no reason to rush from my bed.  I was not late.  I was not early.  I was in the perfect timing for today.  I thought of the many days that I had stayed in bed not wanting to get up and start the day and the many days when I suddenly got out of bed because I realized that I would be running behind all day if I did not get up.  Today was not one of those days.  Today I was simply grateful that I had had a great night's sleep in a warm, firm bed.  I suppose, knowing that there a great many people who do not have even that simple pleasure, was what made this unremarkable morning, most remarkable.

The first day of February has started very beautifully for me.