This morning, my alarm went off at 5:10. I hit the snooze button (which really isn’t a button on the iPhone, but you know what I mean) and rolled towards the center of my massive bed, tempted to sleep in and skip my run. Just a few more minutes. When the alarm went off a second time, both Bread and I groaned. Another hour would be great. Then I thought about how much I love time with Kerry and Jenny, who would be at Lady Bird Lake waiting for me at 5:50. I thought about how good a morning run feels and how satisfying it is to clean up at the gym, grab a smoothie and be heading to work, already having accomplished so much by 8:00 a.m. So I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed, scooped up my various bags and hurried out the door.

I’m so glad I did. We had a wonderful run, and the morning affirmed for me once again that I never regret making a workout. I often regret sleeping in, but I never regret getting the workout done. Ever. So why do I have to convince myself most mornings that I really do want to get up and get my day started?

I want to become someone who wakes up ready to start each day. I’m working on that. I’m working on getting to bed earlier so that I’m getting more sleep. But more than that, I’m working on creating a life that genuinely excites me. That can mean different things to different people. I think for me it means (a) having someone I’m excited to wake up to and (b) doing something I just can’t wait to do.

Last year, when I went to Whidbey Island for a PeerSpirit workshop, I went to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 each night and woke by 5:00 without an alarm. I was so excited about the people I was getting to know and the writing we were doing that starting each day felt effortless, with one exception. On Saturday, we had the entire day to write, and we spent the day in silence. So I went to bed Friday night knowing that I was on my own the next day, and I overslept, no doubt because what I faced intimidated me.

As I’m working through the Storyline Conference materials, I’m getting excited about the possibilities for my life. I’m not through the entire program yet, but I’m getting there, and it’s fun. Dreaming is fun, but I’m not just dreaming. I’m planning towards those dreams, which is really exciting. I’m also realizing that I’m excited about the people who are appearing in my life – some of them again and some for the first time.

With everything going on right now, I’m hopeful that my morning self-talk soon will change from “I really should” to “I can’t believe I get to.”

I want an “I can’t believe I get to” life. Don’t you?