Sunrise Awakening: The Joy of Rising Before Dawn
Life as a student often requires waking up early, and I personally wake up at 5:45 sharp every weekday. This early morning routine, associated with the sharp tones of Sad but True from Metallica's Black Album, fills me with a sense of purpose. Once I'm up, I quickly change and head to school, packing breakfast and essentials before 6:00 AM.
What Do I Do When I Get Up in the Morning?
This morning ritual, though routine, is far from monotonous. After waking up, I immediately use the bathroom, make my bed, and stretch. You might be surprised by how beneficial this simple act can be. While my morning routine is largely the same, I ensure I make the best out of every day by preparing a cup of coffee to sip before leaving.
On the weekends, my mornings are extended, allowing me to relax. My morning starts with checking my phone for notifications. While this habit may be necessary for communication with friends and family, it's a bad habit, as it takes me away from a mindset of gratitude and reflection. Instead, you should start your day by thanking God for a new day, enjoying some quiet moments, and then proceed with your daily routine.
Before Sunrise: A Personal Choice
In contrast to many, I almost always wake up before my wife. When I do, I start my day by turning on my phone, brewing coffee, and reading the daily newspaper. My wife then joins me for coffee, followed by her morning exercises. There are rare occasions when I don't wake up before her, and those mornings can be a letdown, as I miss that harmonious start.
Sunrise: A Time for Reflection and Appreciation
Deciding to wake up before sunrise is deeply personal, and it's often rooted in the joy of experiencing the day's arrival. This time is invaluable, as it offers a unique perspective that can't be replicated later in the day.
For Homer, it was 'rosy-fingered dawn,' and for Wordsworth, 'bliss was it in that dawn to be alive.' Each poet captures the essence of dawn's beauty and the sense of renewal it brings. Let's explore some famous verses that highlight this:
"A soft air fans the cloud apart / Once more the old mysterious glimmer steals / From thy pure brows and from thy shoulders pure / And bosom beating with a heart renewed." - Alfred Tennyson, "The Phantasm's Banquet"
The dawn is cherished for its beauty and the promise it holds. Who would want to miss that moment of life's purest joy? Tennyson's poem beautifully personifies dawn as the goddess Aurora, renewing her beauty each morning:
"Ere yet they blind the stars and the wild team / Which love thee yearning for thy yoke arise / And shake the darkness from their loosened manes / And beat the twilight into flakes of fire." - Alfred Tennyson, "The Phantasm's Banquet"
On a more personal level, sunrise also presents smaller but significant moments. One spring morning, while half asleep with the bedroom window open, I heard a bird venture out, causing every bird in the backyard to break into song. What a joy it was to feel alive again, knowing that the night’s darkness was fallacious.
On another occasion, when I was in Kentucky, I witnessed a comet in the eastern quadrant of the sky. The sight was so astounding that I couldn't even imagine capturing it with my camera. Years later, I identified the comet as Ikeya-Seki, a 'sungrazer' that appeared in 1967. Such moments remind us of the wonders of the natural world.
Ultimately, waking up before sunrise is a choice that rejuvenates the soul and connects us to the beauty of the world. It's a moment to be cherished and savored, allowing us to start our days with gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose.