After this run-in, I got to thinking: Are sleepless nights really all that terrible? And a key concept kept on coming up--it all depends on what caused or will cause the sleepless night(s). My classmate, I don't think, should be nearly as upset as she is. Yes, it's stressful, but you do your best and put it into perspective. Her scenario is far easier to digest than some other. Here are a few examples:
1) The Procrastination Factor (When You're Already Too Busy)
This is where I feel my classmate (as well as myself) has fallen into the sleepless night trap. She seemed so caught off guard by it, but, c'mon, we're students. We have a pretty explicit schedule of rehearsal, class syllabi, and work. Yes, there are definite hiccups that can interrupt the flow of our normal routine. But, I don't think that this was a surprise by any means--just a realization that a lot of crap is do at the same time and you didn't manage your time well enough to prepare for it. I'm not saying that I don't do this on a weekly basis, and end up kicking myself when it happens, but... it's your own fault and you don't need to act like it's the end of the world.
2) New Relationship
I am currently in this category, along with the latter. We all know about the giddiness and energy that magically appears when you're in a new relationship. I've already had many late nights on the phone, all of which--at any time--I could have said, "Well, I have to be up at 6 AM for work, so I'll have to let you go." But, of course, I didn't. STUPIIIIIID. But, at the same time, I cherish the many hours of chuckles, romantic comments, and getting to know the other person that have come out of these talks. This, I think, is a "good" sleepless night, despite the many in a row that I've encountered.
3) Poor Sleeping Conditions
I had to deal with this the last night of my trip. I'm not saying that sleeping in a tent in the Appalachians was, by any means, poor sleeping conditions. I was just not as prepared as I should have been. The temperature dropped off and got cooler than normal that evening. I have a fleece blanket, sleeping mat, pillow, pants, long socks, hoodie, T-shirt made into a hat, shoes, etc., off of which I was using, but I was still cold. Luckily I had one of those Emergency/Shiny Silver blankets in my first aid kit. If it hadn't been for that thing I would have more than likely gotten hypothermia that night... no lie. This is a not-so-fun sleepless night scenario, but, again, it was my fault so I can't really complain.
4) Lost Loved One
My classmate, along with myself, should be very grateful that all of our sleepless nights have been due to our own stupidity thus far. Recently, a relative of mine lost their spouse. This was not expected, and they were still very young--around 30. The spouse went canoeing late at night to blow off steam and ended up somehow tipping the canoe over, going into hypothermic shock, and drowning. There were many sleepless nights for my relative because they did not find the body initially; it took almost a week for the search crews to find it. I cannot even imagine the angst and horrific pain that they went through.
A lesson to us all: be thankful for the self-inflicted sleepless nights, and cherish
the fact that we're still here.
