Originally published on LinkedIn July 22, 2022

I am generally a happy person. In the time before (pre-COVID) when we didn’t wear masks all the time, people would comment that I’m always smiling. I am.

I love my life, my husband, my family, and my job. The people I see regularly tend to think that I wake up like this. That I pop out of bed and smile and start my day in the best mood.

 Well, nope.

I’m not happy in the morning when my alarm goes off. I push the snooze a few times. I have to set three alarms including a Blake Shelton one on my bedroom Echo that says “Isn’t it time for a drink? I mean coffee. You better get up!” over and over. I must yell “ALEXA, OFF!!!!” to make it stop.

Since childhood,