Leora Tripp Week 8: Waking up With the Sun

Over this past weekend, I tried something I’ve only ever done a handful of times; I woke up early and went to the beach to watch the sunrise. My mother recently started going to the beach weekly to witness the sunrise and practice yoga. However, I’ve been hesitant to go with her as I’m not much of a morning person and was concerned that my aversion to most morning activities would ruin the experience for me. After witnessing the sunrise this weekend, I can confidently say that this presumption did not prove to be true. 

I found that the early sunrise naturally woke me up for my daily activities and made me feel as though I used my day to its fullest; by the time I got home, my family had still not woken up! The sunrise also allowed me to start my day with a relaxed and positive mindset; allotting uninterrupted time for me to sort my thoughts and emotions before the long Sunday I had ahead of me. 

I believe that sunrises, especially on the beach, hold a unique and powerful beauty. The sky evolves from complete darkness to sunlight within a matter of moments; if you don't pay attention, the sun will rise before you know it. I believe the true beauty of a sunrise is found in the highly anticipated moments when the natural sunlight from the sun travels through the clouds on the horizon displaying an array of warm and vibrant colors. When I went to the beach this past Sunday, this process started moments before the sun even began to rise, giving me enough time to take in the natural phenomena. 

Nowadays, as we live in a smartphone era, it has become a challenge to take time away from our phones and we tend to neglect the beauty that readily awaits us each day. Many of us don’t take advantage of living so close to the beautiful beaches of Florida. After a simple trip to the beach, my day changed, leaving me feeling more productive and grateful for the natural beauties God grants us with. Have you woken up recently to watch the sunrise?