Shower ritual... I am a night showerer. I love slipping into sheets when I'm clean, and I know that it keeps the sheets cleaner. Plus, the ritual of washing off the day, toweling off, moisturizing, and slipping on a great pair of pjs is mellowing. Its a feel good thing.

At night I like to meditate. I have a video that I turn on and I lay down on my yoga mat. I really enjoy the body scan segment as you just lay there (or sit if you prefer) and you concentrate on your toes, then your ankles, then your calves all the way to the tip of your head with nice relaxing music in the background. I am a novice at this so I am not someone who is able to "completly clear my mind". BUT when my mind does wonders I bring it back to focusing on my body scan. When I am having trouble sleeping this is very helpful too.

Brush my teeth, take some "night" medication.

I just read. After getting the kids ready for bed, I read them a bedtime story. After reading to them, I head to my bedroom to read books, magazines, or material that I previously written. Reading helps me to fall asleep after a busy day.

Last night, the last thing I did was compose in my mind a letter about the most unusual holiday gift I've ever received. It was a bright yellow slicker for Valentine's Day.
I had recently met a man who loved boating and fishing. Valentine's Day was our first "holiday" together, and receiving the slicker was a prediction that we would be spending many hours in inclement weather where a slicker would be important for my comfort. Twenty four years later, after wearing the slicker on many boats, from Alaska to New Zealand, the slicker is still keeping me warm and dry!

After putting our five year to bed. My husband and I snuggle up together to watch a few minutes of T.V. before drifting off to sleep.

I turn on some Justin Timberlake music and i invite my husband to bed ... : )

I READ A LITTLE AT NIGHT. USUALLY A MYSTERY,
OR I'LL LISTEN TO SOME REALLY GOOD JAZZ, AND BELIVE IT OR NOT I'M SLEEPY. WHEN I READ THOUGH, I'LL HAVE TEA AND THAT KNOCKS ME
RIGHT OUT. I'LL TELL YA, IT'S BETTER THAN A SLEEPING PILL.

Kiss my husband for at least one full minute.
We just started this last week, and have noticed already a positive change.

The last thing I do before I go to bed is lie completely flat on my back so that my body is completely parallel to the ceiling. I then slowly relax each and every muscle in my body, starting with my feet. When I feel that my whole body is relaxed enough, I close my eyes and let my body feel as if it is melting into the mattress. It's such a wonderful way to get a good night's sleep and to wake up with noe achy muscles.

The last thing I do at bedtime is pray, first mentioning my husband nd children. I then ask for blessings for relatives, friends and neighbors, or even people seen on the news who are having rough times. Next I include those who pray for me and those who cared for me when I was ill. Praying is such a positive way to sleep peacefully.