...and a sunset is just a sunrise, backwards! If God really wanted me to see a sunrise, He would make it later in the day. This is something I have said to my husband more than once, but the joke is on me these days because my present job position has me up at 3:30 in the morning and on the way to work by 4:15am. Does this make me a Morning Person or a Night Owl? In the past I have been a Night Owl, but since I started working this early shift I must reluctantly admit; I am now a born-again Morning Person. It's easy to get lost in the splendor of a sunset, but I have learned that Emerson's remark was really all about the glory of a new dawn.
I realize that I've spent most of my life missing the sacred promise of morning that spills forth during those hours when previously only visions of sugarbuns and coffee danced in my head. As I walk to my car I often catch my breath and offer a reverent word of thanks for the starry night that greets me. I want to play Van Gogh, run back inside for my art supplies and ditch the day job. There's a family of owls around our place and they stand ready with a wakeup call that jolts me back to reality. They often let out a shriek that is no doubt a wicked commentary on what I look like at this early hour of the day.
I have to be honest and admit that it's the lure of a paycheck that gets me up at this hour. However, more often than not I am wide awake and smiling before I reach my destination. It's all about strategy. One of the first things I did when I started this new job was create a mix CD to get me going and feeling happy about being awake. As I am leaving my hosue I crank it up and hit the road singing. By the time I get to my job at the fitness center I have transformed into the Good Morning Faerie who gets to bring sleeping machines to life and greet folks with words of good cheer. Early bird exercisers await my arrival! At first I found these people a little annoying. Really, who wakes up that awake? Their enthusiasm and zest for life is contagious! You can't resist that kind of attitude. Before you know it their influence has spread to everyone around them. Some of these folks are Morning People and they are here just because that's normal for them. There are others though who are making a sacrifice to be here. It's not their natural inclination, but they have chosen to dedicate themselves to a fitness routine that will help them be at their best. Their commitment to excellence inspires me.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was no doubt one of the leaders of the Original Morning Person Cult. If he were here today he'd be standing at the door with a cup of coffee for me, smiling and describing the colors of the sunrise as I open the facility. He would say inspiring things like, "Each moment of the year has its own beauty." Thanks, Ralph. Well, he's right folks! Each day has some beautiful moments and if you really want to grab all it has to offer, get out bed and drink in the colors of the sunrise as fuel for your day. You might even find yourself embracing life with new anticipation if you show up at the gym and worship with the Morning Fanatics! Eventually, (if you can stay awake) you can celebrate the vibrant hues of the sunset.
Enjoy your sunrise!
