I've struggled with insomnia for years. For a long time, I freaked out about the lack of sleep, sure I'd be seeing pink dalmatians or some other circus oddity at some point in time when everyone else should be waking up and going to work. After a number of years of lack of sleep, I really started to think about what it cost me. Anything substantial? I figured time spent sleeping is time wasted. The hours that I spend awake (at least the hours that span the period of time one would normally snooze) can include stuff that "normal" people miss. Some nights I find myself listening to the most amazing cacophony of coyotes in the gulley behind our house. Of course I can't resist hollering at them and competing. The neighbors are surely convinced I'm bonkers ;-) Sometimes I read (always the most ridiculous pulp fiction), and sometimes I watch the most silly television programming. Some nights I go outside to our big deck and marvel at the stars and planets. It is awesome and I can't believe how many people ignore this stuff. While we can't see much with the light pollution (living TOO close to Los Angeles), I can catch the occasional meteor and feel like I just won some big prize. I'm such a cheap date.
Life could be worse. Not being able to fall asleep easily or stay asleep isn't a terrible thing. Insomniacs such as myself see so much of life that everyone else sleeps through - the owls hooting, the old movie, the kitty that wants to play...it's all better than the alternative, no???
