the best cure for insomnia
- Tagged best cure for insomnia, clay ball story, cure for insomnia, dear clay ball, Gliese 581 d, how to fall asleep quickly, how to start an advice column, how to treat insomnia, the tiniest advice columnist in the universe

Well, my dear readers, I have developed a little sideline to my day job…it is actually an offshoot of this little blog! As many of you may know, once you start a little inter-galactic blog, a curious thing happens. Beings from all over the Universe start to write to you & ask for advice! There is something about having a blog that makes you seem an expert of sorts!
It is really a little humbling, and, to be perfectly honest, most of the time I don’t know the answer to all these questions…I am actually just a little clay ball who has had just a regular amount of life’s experiences–nothing to make me an expert!
But, in response to all these letters, I have developed an Intergalactic Advice Column called “Dear Clay Ball”—I don’t know why, but the name just sounded so catchy to me!

I only answer the questions I feel best equipped to handle…the other letters, I usually just write a short note and include a bit of haiku or perhaps a limerick, & my sincerest apologies in not being able to be more helpful!

If I get stuck with a tough question that I should know the answer to, I usually look up to the blue sky for inspiration…

If that does not work, I look a bit higher still…& it usually comes to me after a bit. If not, I canvas my family, friends, & neighbors for their opinions…it is usually most interesting to get every body’s input!

To give you a little sample, here’s a letter I just received today:
Dear CB,
I just cannot sleep at night. Do you know a cure for insomnia?
(signed)
Sleepless in Gliese 581 d.
Well, this was an easy one! This is what I replied:
Dear Sleepless in Gliese 581 d,
Thank you for writing! As a matter of fact, I do happen to have a simple cure for insomnia (so you will be spared my limericks & haiku!).
Here it is: Think of the things you are grateful for! For some reason, this is a snoozer. I am not sure why, but it works every time! When I start to think of the things I am thankful for, I fall asleep immediately.
This also works for children! Sometimes I help them start out, by saying, “Think of something that starts with A that you are thankful for, then something that starts with B, etc.” and before too long, they are fast asleep!
There is something about gratitude that is maybe very soothing or perhaps just a little bit boring to ourselves, I am not sure which it is!
Well, good luck with that!
love,
your friend Clay Ball

…oh, okay then, here’s just one little limerick:
There once was a clay ball from space,
Who left home in a giant disgrace.
With her babies she flew,
To a planet so blue,
And now she’s in love with this place!



















































