I’m Fixing to Start Getting Up Early in the Mornings

I’m fixing to start getting up early in the mornings.

You know they say the early bird gets the worm. I suppose that bit of wisdom is alluding to the fact that if you know the way to the buffet and you get there early and are first in line you will be the first one to be served.

Or, maybe it’s warning you to get to the ball yard early if you want a choice seat before the action begins.

If you take it literally and are a worm, then my best advice is to keep your slimy self underground until all those early birds have completed their grazing and moved on.

I’ve also heard it said you need to plow deep while others sleep. Now this one is easy to figure out. I think it means you will be better off if you get on the job early in the morning while your competitors are still snoozing.

I think this bit of wisdom was coined in colonial times when almost everyone made their living as a farmer and can be attributed to Ben Franklin.

Wise sayings are properly known as aphorisms, which is considered a compressed poetic genre in itself, and in some cultures the ability to spontaneously produce aphoristic sayings at exactly the right moment is a key determinant of social status. Many societies have traditional sages or culture heroes to whom aphorisms are commonly attributed, such as Confucius or King Solomon.

Aphoristic collections, sometimes known as wisdom literature, have a prominent place in the canons of ancient societies, and they also make up an important part of the work of some recent authors like Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain.

Although these two gentlemen might not be thought of as recent, they are if you compare their time to that of King Solomon.

My favorite is Mr. Twin, however his aphorisms do seem to lend themselves toward sarcasm and humor. For instance he once said, “It would not be possible for Noah to do in our day what he was permitted to do in his own because the building inspector would come and examine the Ark, and make all sorts of objections.”

A few others of his I like include: “Get your facts right, then you can distort them as you please,” and “The person who does not read good books has no advantage over the one who can’t read them.”
An aphorist is someone who produces or collects aphorisms. I don’t claim to have produced any, but I do collect them, so I suppose I am one.

I particularly like that early bird one, and I intend to act upon it and put it to use. I have been accused of staying in bed until almost the noon hour by some people, so I am going to use that wise saying to mend my ways.

Starting right now, immediately, beginning with tomorrow, I’m fixing to start getting up before breakfast every day.