So last week I was staring at the ceiling at 3 AM again, wired but exhausted. That’s when I remembered how my grandma used to read me absurd animal stories to knock me out. Got me thinking – why don’t adults get silly bedtime tales?
The Lightbulb Moment
Grabbed my notebook next morning and scribbled “Office Unicorn” at the top. Imagined a glittery horse photocopying its butt during night shifts. Couldn’t stop chuckling while making coffee. Right then I knew this could work.
Testing the Waters
First live test was brutal. Told the “Sock Goblins” story to my poker group Thursday night:
Opener: “Picture this – your missing socks? Stolen by tiny goblins who use them as sleeping bags!”
Dead silence. One guy just blinked slowly. Oof.
Went back and injected way more ridiculous details – like goblin king snoring into a polka-dotted tube sock. Practice made perfect:
Told it to my barista during morning rush
Whispered it to Karen from accounting in elevator
Even recorded myself telling it to my fridge
The Breakthrough
Last Saturday night, hosted “Pajama Story Hour” for neighbors. Dimmed lights, passed out cookies:
Started with “Gary the Competitive Insomniac” racing sheep
Midway through, heard actual snoring from the couch
Ended with “The Grumpy Alarm Clock” tale – got three people sleeping before the punchline!
Epic win. Realized adults don’t need fancy words – just pure nonsense delivered slow and low.
What I Learned
Three big takeaways:
Embracing absurdity is way harder than it looks
Volume control makes or breaks sleepy-time mode
Grown-ups secretly love goblin economics more than spreadsheets
Now I keep story prompts on my nightstand. Woke up yesterday with “Tooth Fairy Union Strike” scribbled on my arm. Yeah, this is becoming a thing.
