Sleep is Actually for the Strongest Soldiers

Dearest GwenPal,

This week I learned a valuable lesson: sleep is very, very important.

Growing up, I really struggled with going to sleep on time. My mom worked the night shift, and my father had a hard time standing because of his chemotherapy, so I never really experienced the whole "getting tucked into bed" thing. I would stay up until 1 a.m. watching Oswald the Octopus or Wow Wow Wubsy, fall asleep on the couch, and then wake up in my bed the next morning, not remembering that I'd walked myself to bed in a drowsy daze.

I used to wonder why it was so hard for me to wake up every morning, but looking at my track record, it makes sense that I have no idea what my bedtime should be. My sleep schedule has been fucked for years.

So, I spent a week curating my bedtime routine. Every night, I aimed to go to bed consistently at midnight to get a solid 7 ½ hours of shut-eye. The difference I saw was phenomenal.

Not only did it get much easier to wake up in the morning, it also became easier to remember tasks and actually feel capable of accomplishing them. I didn't feel like passing out whenever I got home from work or school. This is probably very obvious to everyone else, but I grew up in special circumstances so I get to pretend like this is revolutionary information (even though it is taught in literally every educational institution in the United States... I have no excuse).

But something is enticing about staying up until the morning light burns. I get some of my most groundbreaking revelations when I stay up (like deciding to get back into fanfiction, y'know, for science). Although, those moments are far and few between, they hold a special place in my soul. It’s almost as special as getting enough sleep every day.

I know, I know, it's a bad habit to stay up every single night, and I plan to break it for good. I'm already starting to become more of a morning person (with the help of my friend, Penjamin). All I need is motivation to go to bed early (or a deterrent to keep me from going to bed late).

Any tips or anecdotes from the morning people? Let me know!

What’s the Worm in my Ear Singing?

Keeping up with the theme or reminiscing on my formative childhood moments, today's song comes from one of my favorite childhood shows: What's New, Scooby-Doo?

Not only is this show goated, but it reminds me of a simpler time when all I wanted to do was be a detective and solve mysteries. It also reminds me of the crushes I had on Daphne and Velma throughout the show. Although Velma was always my favorite, Daphne is stealing my heart as I progress into my girl era. The green and purple is a diabolical combination. (Joker-core 💚💜)

The theme song is the epitome of putting 110% effort into an extra credit assignment. Simple Plan did NOT have to go this hard.

But even so...

Surprisingly, today's song is NOT a five-heart listen. While I love it to bits, I can't help but want more from the drummer. It felt like they were holding back to keep the kids from crying. Maybe what I'm craving is true rock (or pop punk? I don't understand genres...) and this is simply the Delta 8 version of what would really rock my boat. Nevertheless, I give it a solid

💜💚💜💚/5

for nostalgia and artistry. It's just too tame for me I guess 🤭

Anywho, I hope you enjoyed this week's letter. I may or may not have something very exciting (or embarrassingly devastating) to talk about next issue, but I'll save that conversation for next time. For now, keep your chins high and your relationship standards even higher; believing in yourself is the most important thing (and SLEEP!!!! DON’T FORGET TO SLEEP ENOUGH!!!)

Until next time!

Love,

Your GwenPal <3