Question for you….Do you like to rise early? Do you like to begin your day with quiet, peace, beauty, and a cup of coffee? If, you are like me, you probably do.
This was my view this morning at 5:30 a.m. My husband and I are visiting the grandkids for a few days while their parents enjoy some time away.
With cup of coffee in hand, I sat and watched the glory and splendor of this day dawn. It was breathtaking and humbling. It was also inspiring.
Many years ago, I realized the power of beginning the day in solitude and thought. When my children were still living at home, and I was simultaneously a frantic full time university professor, full time graduate student, full time wife, and full time mother, I discovered that I couldn’t do any of these things well if I didn’t carve out some time to be alone with myself.
Does this sound familiar?
So, I began setting my alarm clock for 1 hour before anyone in the house would stir. That usually meant a 5 a.m. wake up call. Typically, that would be followed by a morning run, and then some time to sit quietly, sip my coffee, read something inspirational, gaze out at nature unfolding, and be still.
And by doing so, I found that invariably the rest of my day would go better than if I tried to squeak out that extra hour of sleep in the morning, and then wake to the chaos of the alarm clock and rushing frantically to get the kids off to school, myself ready for work, fighting traffic and my thoughts every step of the way.
Then something amazing happened. The habit of my early rising routine made it possible for me to wake up without an alarm clock. For the past 22 years, unless I have an early morning flight somewhere, I have not used an alarm clock. My body craved that peace, beauty, and stillness in the early dawn and reset itself to wake and rise naturally.
So today, as I sit here still sipping my coffee, I am grateful to greet this day. I wait in peace and stillness and deep gratitude for what this day will bring. I wait for my grandchildren to stir and my husband to rise. There is anticipation in the air. It’s going to be a great day.
This day, my friends, I encourage you to rise to the glory and splendor of being alive. Take in the beauty that surrounds you wherever you are and be grateful. You will be glad you did.