Many years ago, my family was given a lap blanket for a Christmas present. Nothing spectacular about this blanket per se. Gray-ish in color…. cotton blend, light-weight, just reached far enough to cover my feet. However, this blanket had special properties that to this day can not be officially confirmed and verified. Whenever I would lay down on the couch and cover up with said blanket, I would quickly fall asleep.
Not, just asleep. Deep, deep sleep. Hard sleep! This is the open mouth, drool on the throw pillow kind of deep sleep.
I finally decided to call it the “lead blanket”. You know when you go to the dentist (my dislike for the dentist post here) and they give you that big protective covering when they give you an x-ray? Protect your throat people…. That is what this blanket felt like. I would think to myself, I’ll just lay here for 20 minutes or so and take a teeny tiny cat nap, and then immediately I would fall into this crazy dreamland. In these vivid dreams, I would see myself sleeping and think, “wow, I really need to get up” and in my dream I would get up. Unfortunately, this did not translate into reality. Then I would fall back again deeply and determine that I was going to get up and honestly, I really thought I was awake…..
Two hours later….. I would look at the clock, force my eyes to remain open, and know with all that was within me, that if I could just get that lead blanket off of me, the cold blast of air would do the trick. With every bit of strength I could muster, I would throw that blanket off and the haze over my mind would begin to lift. Phew!
Makes me think about what else I need to “throw off ” of my life. What is holding you down? Anything trying to smother the life out of you?
Stephanie Baffone is a great writer who is a mental health therapist. Her blog discusses loving, losing and learning. Check her out!
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I need one of those blankets!
It made me think of those weighted blankets they have now, specially made for people who struggle (usually due to a diagnosis of some sort) to sleep well. It’s a great idea!
Melatonin works good too if you have trouble sleeping at night.
I think all my blankets are like that…
Great analogy! If I had to pick something that was trying to smother me, it would be my own desire to numb out…shut down…hide away from the chaos that can often erupt all around me. See…I retreat TO the lead blanket…
Thanks!
Bina
Step away from the blanket….. run! :O)
I can relate to the thought…”I’ll just lay down for 20 mins.” and it ends up being two hours. hee hee As for what do I need to get rid of in my life. That is something to think about. Food for thought. Thanks Diana!
Our bodies must need the extra sleep is all I can think…..:O)
Hi Diane -
This sounds like the kind of sleep I experienced after an illness. For several weeks, I slept 12-14 hours a day.
Maybe your body just needed the rest.
Blessings,
Susan
Especially after working in the nursery at church. Exhausting!!!
urgent prayer request and prayer button on arise 2 write.
andrea
Thank you Andrea for the heads up.
I love blankets like that!
Oh yeah Kristen!
Diane,
You are so thoughtful!! Thank you for the shout out and you kind feedback. I try to balance my experiences without sounding Pollyana. So glad it’s helpful.
These past few days I’ve had some sleep justliene te kind that lead blanket of yours promised. The Nyquil helps though
Thank you again, Diane!
Pollynana….. never! :O)
That’s funny. I used to go right to sleep whenever we would drive long distances. Now I have to stay awake to keep hubbie awake. Stephanie’s blog is good!
I’m with you there too. It’s called the Magic car ride for me and my kids. Zzzzzzzz
I love heavy blankets – love them! I like how you tied it to writing.
Thanks Shannon. Have a great week!
That’s a great blanket! They always make me feel centered in a way. Sometimes at night, I find myself doing my best “poetry thinking” when I’m all cocoon like in my blanket. No one pulling on me at that moment. I do let my practical life sometimes smother that urge to create.
Everything is balance, right???
Sometimes these NY winters make me feel like crawling under that blanket — for warmth! I do like a nice nap now and then though. We have a blanket like that – it’s actually a Bronco’s throw but what the heck……….
Whatever works for you, go for it!
Ah, sleep sounds really good right now. That blanket sounds like bliss.
Anything weighing me down? Not too much right now, thankfully.
Great! Hope it stays that way for a while for you Jessica.
Lots of things are holding me down right now. Can I borrow your lead blanky for just a little while? Maybe I can make it into a tent and crawl beneath it.
Absolutely Angie, anytime!
Not so much now–except a busy life:)) Finally but I am grateful for each moment. My daughter gave us one such blanket at Christmas and oh how I love it.
Wish I could stay home today and cuddle down and write but can’t. But again–this is what I have to do now for this season of my life and God sure knows why! Have a blessed day today!
So thankful for your new job. :O)
Maybe you need me to make you a weighted blanket like I did for Jack? Maybe that would help with your sleep troubles. Although, you told me that you were trying something new (cortisone?) and it was helping.
The pro-cortisol is working. The lead blanket only seems to work for napping :O)