Sunrises and sunsets arrive and leave quickly and are but a flash in the grand scheme of things, another quick step on life’s path. In the musical Fiddler on the Roof, during the wedding scene with Tevye, Golde, Perchik, Hodel, and chorus, these well-known lyrics are sung:

Sunrise, sunset,
Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the days …

These dynamic parts of a new day and its closing are valuable to savor.

And there’s something about morning and a sunrise. Its beauty. Its promise. Its joy. The wash of color. Early mornings are my favorite time.

Sunrise in the Desert

The coming alive of the sky, the first sounds of the day, the promise of what the day may hold, planned or unplanned, seem like a giant helping of cosmic energy. It’s the time to enjoy the quiet in the house, the collecting of thoughts, the feeling of well-being. Time for a cup of coffee and the reading of a newspaper undisturbed. It’s time to take a morning walk and notice the sky and the wash of color.

But not everyone is able to have that morning solitude, the leisurely coming about of the morning. Some days start with a bang. Hopefully, the energy of a new day can help with getting kids up and ready for school, mobilizing a crew, or giving care to a loved one.

And even if you already know a day is going to be bad, a bummer as they say, the sunrise can offer a bit of strength, of hope, a feeling of “I can do this,” or “I can get through this,” whatever this may be.

A Coachella Valley Sunrise

                                                                                      Photo courtesy of Carol Quance  

My favorite time to write is early, when the sun is on the rise. My mind is fresh. I may have been working on a story or blog post during the night, in and out of sleep. What seems problematic or a fuzzy idea often clarifies in the morning.

The sunrise makes way for untold possibilities. So much to do in a day.