A lovely side effect of the Outside23in23 challenge is that I have become addicted to the sunrise.
Expect for dogs leashed to joggers’ waists and the occasional impatient SUV on a morning commute so early the driver should absolutely rethink their life choices, my neighborhood is silent and deserted pre-dawn. I feel like the snow stained pink from streetlights and pale winter sun is a secret just for me, and it’s a cozy kind of silent and deserted. Some houses have lights on in kitchen windows. Sometimes I can see a woman or two doing HIIT workouts in their unfinished basements. The custodian is usually getting the school ready for the day, and a few classroom motion-sensor lights come on.
Occasionally, Cooper and Dorothy walk with me. Dorothy is a mid-morning, hot-cocoa-in-hand ,weekend walker, but Cooper will get up before the sun and seek it out with me. He loves to walk over frozen ice puddles on the sidewalk and listen to them crack under his shoes, and the morning moon delights him.
When I am alone, I listen to an audiobook or a daily news podcast and stop to marvel at the sky. It’s such a perfect way to start my day: crisp, quiet, contemplative. I did think the other day as I was zipping my ankle-length coat over my pajamas pulling up my tall Uggs that when coat season is over, I am either going to have to sleep in outside clothes or change first thing in the morning— a wrinkle for sure. For now, I roll straight out of bed to the sidewalk, maaaaaybe stopping for a Keurig cup of coffee first, but not always.
Will I get up with the sun as it rises earlier and earlier? Maybe. Probably. I might be addicted. The brand new sky is a delight I didn’t know I was missing.
What a wonderful midlife discovery... that the world can still surprise us with so much beauty. Your pictures are simply fab.
ReplyDeletethank you-- I don't know why it's a surprise, but it IS.
DeleteHa! I roll out of bed in the morning, go downstairs and brush the cat, and immediately take the dog out for a walk in whatever I wore to bed. So in the summertime, I'm out there in a tank top and shorts with no bra and I have no regrets. I have rarely so much as brushed my hair. If people are judging me for my morning walk, that's on them!
ReplyDeleteI sleep in, like, PAJAMAS, so a tank and shorts would be an upgrade LOL
DeleteI love the sunrise so much, and I love the early mornings. I always have. They are so peaceful and beautiful. I really enjoyed reading this, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteThis is such a great way to start the day. I don't think I could do it every day but I try once a week. Ah maybe I could be out every morning... No probably not. But I love living through the sunrises here.
ReplyDeleteI am like 5/7 or maybe 2/3 of the week. Sometimes, I need to stay in bed more than I need to see a pretty sky.
DeleteI am not a morning person, but I know I'm missing so much beauty! You're inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't see the sunrise, my M-F routine typically does involve an early-morning walk as we walk to school. Thankfully (?) this walk is after sunrise, but it is such a nice way to start the day. I have exercise under my belt and cool (or cold this time of year) fresh air!
I AM a morning person, but the sunrise is even too early for me every single day. I, too, love to cross exercise off first thing.
DeleteSunrises are so pretty! I see more of them in the winter than the summer because as much as I love them, I can't handle super early mornings when the sun rises around 5! But I have seen some beautiful ones this winter, too. I am kind of failing on 23 in '23 this month. It's been way harder to fit in with all the traveling I've done. I'm giving myself a bit of a pass for now!
ReplyDeleteIt would be SO hard with travel, especially as a woman pretty much alone in a new city, which is a sad commentary on the world.
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