Sleep

I got my English essay paper back today. So I reckoned: What better way to update my blog than by typing in things that I have already written and hence do not need to put in further thinking effort? :)

The topic for directed writing was “Ways to Promote Tourism” and we were meant to write it in the format of a speech. Directed writing is boring so here’s just the opening:

“A good product needs a good salesman,

But a good salesman does not need a good product.”

A very good morning I bid to the respected chairman, esteemed judges, accurate timekeeper, fellow contestants and last but not least, members of the floor. The topic I have chosen for my speech today is “Ways to Promote Tourism.”

Ladies and gentlemen,

As my opening quote states, “A good product needs a good salesman, but a good salesman does not need a good product”. It does not matter if you have El Dorado in your backyard or Shangri-la over the mountains, if you do not promote it, you might as well own the Gobi Desert. We, Malaysians, however are lucky. God has been so kind as to provide us with sun all year round as well as fauna and flora unique to our region. It is not a question of selling ice to an Eskimo, the question that should be asked is- “How do we promote it?”

Here’s my continuous writing, we started the exam late and I took a bit too long on my first essay, thus I chose a factual essay so that I would finish in time. Is it not sad that creativity is hampered in exams?

Question 2(a): My Favourite Pastime

Sleep

I am a strong believer that time is of the essence.

When I am home and I have completed my homework, or when I am in school and it’s in between lessons (or it’s just History class), I conduct the most beneficial activity possible that also happens to be my favourite pastime:

I sleep.

In this society of somnorexics, my favourite pastime has been given a bad name. Somehow, this totally natural activity has assumed a negative form in the minds of today’s average Joe.

“Sleep,” he says, “is simply a waste of time. Think about all the time things you could get done if there was no need to sleep!”

Staunch on his point, the average Joe starts churning out facts he probably read in some recent daily.

“We spend one-third of our lives sleeping Warren, ONE-THIRD! If you compare that figure to, I don’t know, let’s say the population of China, that would be like……
3,333,333,333 PEOPLE!”

I do not see the connection between the population of China and sleep, and similarly I do not see the connection between sleep and wasting time. So allow me now, if you may, to explain to you why my favourite pastime is in fact beneficial.

What happens when we sleep? Well sleep is a natural process embedded into our inner-workings since the day God made Adam and Eve. When we sleep, our brain and body is given a rest. Through the hectic affairs of each day, our energy ration has been drained and our mind needs time to relax and recharge. Our body uses this time to focus on repairing injuries or cuts, regenerating skin that has flaked off throughout the day as well as allowing our joints to settle in place.

For me, as a teenager, sleep is crucial. As I have not fully developed, I need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a day. During sleep, between the hours of 11pm and 2am, the body releases important growth hormones to allow proper development (no wonder I’m taller than average!).

With the oncoming SPM examinations, sleep is even more important than usual. The deepest stage of sleep is called REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and scientists believe this is the time our mind rearranges memories and thoughts throughout the day. A conclusive study done by NewScientist magazine showed that students with sufficient sleep had a higher probability to successfully memorize facts when tested.

Along with the numerous health benefits, sleeping is my favourtie pastime as it provides me with dreams. I think dreams are one of the many things in life that we would enjoy. Through dreams I have experienced many things I cannot imagine possible here in reality. I have darted through the Milky Way and gone spelunking in megalithic caverns all at the expense of a little time.

So the next time you see me sleeping, do not bother giving me your mumbo-jumbo facts and figures. Sleep is my favourite pastime and it keeps me bright and sunny every day when I am awake. In fact, the next time you see a drool waterfall cascading down my desk, come along, and join me, we shall enjoy my favourite pastime together!

Note: I have never read an issue of NewScientist in my life, I do not know what actually happens during the time we sleep. Basically all my facts are BS. But you see, a good salesman doesn’t need a good product :P