Start Fresh
At the beginning of the summer, I promised myself that I would get up early and head to the shore to experience moments like this one. I took this photograph at 5:03 a.m., only a few days ago. The distance from my home to this location is less than twenty miles, and it didn’t take me a half hour to get there at this time of the day. I was up at 3:30 that morning, with no coffee and some pacing back and forth before I headed out the door - a quirky little habit of mine. A lot of intent went into this early morning drive. This is my reward!
“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”
Henry David Thoreau
I didn’t just happen upon this moment, it was deliberate, planned, and with purpose. I intended to catch the day coming to life right before my eyes. I need to do this more often. I want to see the day advance over the horizon instead of filling up my personal space when I am not paying attention to what is happening. I succeeded this morning! It was not just incredible, it was breathtaking. What is missing from my photograph is the sound of the last unfolding of the small waves as they roll into the shore. Or the smell of sea salt in the air, steamed just enough by the warm, wet summer air.
“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson was right. We fail to realize what lies inside of us. We pass up opportunities to experience the beauty within as much as we do the beauty of our surroundings. But taking the extra steps and paying attention to what we hope to find rewards us in ways we could have never imagined.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
Marcus Aurelius
Read that one again: “precious privilege!” No special skills, thirty-minute sweaty workout, or morning jog required. Nothing more than activating thoughts to remind you of what a privilege it is to be alive, breathe, enjoy, and love!
I have a new goal to become even more intentional with my trips to the shore. The time of the year doesn’t matter, inner peace doesn’t need a specific season to thrive when we take the time to let it flow naturally. Start fresh! Start today! Start this morning!
“There is a morning inside of you waiting to burst open into light.”
Rumi
Talk soon…
G