Something that creeps me out
There’s something that creeps me out, and you know what it is?
Sleep.
More specifically, that tiny bit of time just before you fall unconscious.
You see, before you fall asleep your memory processing shuts down, which is why even though you’ve gone to sleep thousands of times in your life, you never actually remember the moment it happens.
This memory loss in fact extends a little bit before when you actually fall asleep. So why does this creep me out?
Sometimes I’ll be lying in bed, waiting to fall asleep and thinking about things, and as I get closer and closer to falling asleep, I suddenly realise something.
If I’ve entered the timeframe where my memory has shut down, then I won’t remember anything I’m currently thinking about. Effectively, the person who I am for that moment won’t be remembered, and will effectively “die” as soon as I fall asleep.
This knowledge somehow awakens some deep seated survival instinct, and I’m suddenly wide awake. It’s a strange reaction. Like that person who I am for that small moment doesn’t want to disappear.
So that’s why sleeping creeps me out: in order to do it, you have to effectively let a tiny part of yourself die every night.
You may think I’m a bit silly, but I bet a few people will be lying awake in bed a bit later than usual tonight.