It’s amazing how physical fatigue can influence our thoughts, perspectives, and conversations. Trivial annoyances are magnified into catastrophic offenses, menial tasks that require virtually zero bandwidth seem overwhelming, and usual zest for life goes insipidly stale. And this applies to people of ALL AGES…case in point:

About 30 minutes past her usual bedtime the other night, my wife asked our daughter if she would be interested in a fun school-sponsored Day Camp this summer. And here was our normally chipper daughter’s day-by-day analysis of what she, in her Grumble-Grouch state, perceived as a “Heartless Hardcore Elementary Bootcamp:”

Day 1 was a day devoted to athletics. “I don’t care that there’s pizza for lunch…I’m not an athlete.”

Day 2 was a day at a local splash pad. “I don’t like being splashed…it’s too wet.”

Day 3 was a Japanese Culture Day. “I don’t like sushi.”

Days 4 and 5 were visits to a local farm and a zoo. “My grandma got bit by a dog when I was little…no animals for me.”

Crazy Sock day was deemed impractical and possibly dangerous given the almost inevitable June Heat Wave, and the “getting wet” and “not liking sushi” excuses were re-used on several occasions. Out of the combined months of May and June, we got one “Maybe” out of the entire camp activity list before she went to bed in a petulant and surly mood, grumbling that her oppressive parents simply refuse to let her have a “relaxing summer.”

The next morning, she woke up quite excited and very optimistic about the diverse array of activities available to her this summer…she may even work up the courage to try sushi!

Sometimes if you’re lacking mental clarity, unable to enjoy the many blessings of life, and in an all-around irrationally bad mood, you may just need to hit the reset button by getting a good night’s sleep