Riddle me this. What looks similar to a bunch of worms squiggled together, is gray with a tint of red, and is probably the most complex thing in the history of the world? If you guessed the brain, you guessed right!

1. Your Brain is your BFF.

When something traumatic happens to you, your brain will either block it out completely or slightly alter it in order to protect you.

2. My reality is not your reality.

Say you and I both witness a car crash between a blue car and a red car; you might think it was the blue car's fault and I might think it was the red car's fault. Why? Maybe you got in an accident while in the back of a blue car when you were little. Although you may not directly link your accident to the crash you witnessed, the memory is still in your long-term memory. This causes you to perceive the crash differently than I did. Our memories, along with other variables, shape our perception of life.

3. You dream every night.

Don't argue with me on this. You DO dream every night. When you wake up and can't remember what you dreamed of, that means you slept the whole night through. You go, Glen Coco! When you remember your dream from the night before, you woke up at some point during your sleep cycle and fell back asleep.

4. You don't forget things you truly learn.

When your brain really learns something, it doesn't forget it. (So much for what we "learned" in high school, am I right?) Things that you learn are stored in your long term memory and never ever go away. You might forget your 3rd-grade teacher's name, but you'll never forget your own. You've learned your name.

5. Sleep is SO important.

I know what you're thinking, 'OK mom'. Seriously though, sleep is super-duper important. When you're sleeping, your brain is organizing everything from the day into the correct "filing cabinets". (Think: Spongebob episode where his brain is going nuts)

http://exceedinglyoldsoul.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-spongebob-brain.html

Not only does your brain organize, it stores the things that need to be stored in your long term memory and rids the things that don't matter. No sleep means no organizing. No organizing means total chaos. Total chaos= not good. Seriously. Sleep. It's not lazy, it's healthy. BTW- Everybody does not need 8 hours of sleep. The best way to find out how much sleep YOU need is to allow yourself to naturally fall asleep and wake up for 3-4 days and record the average number of hours you slept. You're welcome.