Up early today, which seems to be a habit I’ve successfully rebuilt. Back before the pandemic I was getting up early every day, but early into the stay-at-home, I lost it since I didn’t need to get up early to get things done before the commute. Now it’s back because I made my own reasons instead of relying on traffic and late buses to make it necessary.

The light breeze coming from the open window is a cool 67 degrees. Back in April sixty-seven was enough to make me sweat—now it feels soothing and a little refreshing.

That’s one of our gifts. A nervous system that adjusts to changing conditions, if you let it. The bitter cold of February shifts to the norm, so that a brief spike into the 40s feels glorious. The dog days of summer yield to a cool morning that feels like heaven through a cracked window. If you avoid locking yourself into a climate-controlled home or rolling tin can, you learn to enjoy the variety.

But is really a gift? We can’t control the weather, but we often adjust to things that we do control. Paprika becomes a new baseline. Jalapeños become humdrum. Chipotle is now routine. Haberneros transform into a treat. Our ability to adjust leads to seeking the next high.

Suddenly, it’s an addiction.

This doesn’t just apply to weather and food of course. It can apply to nearly anything. Like the news. Or social media.

One of the reasons I used to get up early was so that I had time to browse the news. Not anymore. I tore myself away from that toxic mess and now the early mornings are for exercise and a few pages of my latest read.

Cooler temperatures are prevailing.

(Photo by Shane Kong on Unsplash)

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