This photo was taken at sunrise when I was on Oahu earlier this year (pre-pandemic), visiting my aunt. I woke up early that morning, and something about this bench, the way the trees cradled the frame, the soft glow of the sunrise reflecting on the buildings, left me with a feeling of hope. This moment, while it seems like a lifetime ago, gives me hope.
As we approach the Winter Solstice, I am exhausted in more ways than one. Perhaps it is because I have a birthday this month; perhaps it is because of the additional holiday stress topped onto the already busy work and home life schedule. Perhaps it is because the days are getting shorter. Or perhaps it is because this has been an EXHAUSTING year.
Is anyone with me?
Earlier this week, I looked at the hours in my day and realized a few key components for maintaining my sanity had started to fall by the wayside. Instead of trying to fit more time in or cut something out of my day, I decided to start waking up an hour earlier. One hour earlier. One hour in which I gave myself time to spend on the things that mattered the most to me. And you know what that extra hour has also given me? It has allowed me to look at the sunrise on the horizon. To wait, to anticipate, to give thanks for another day that is on its way.
This year has been a year of waiting. Waiting for a vaccine, waiting for decisions, waiting for life to return to “normal.” And it can be exhausting.
But what I have found in waking up a little earlier is that there is hope. There is hope on the horizon.
Just like the early morning rays of sunshine that start to show themselves in the warm glow of the clouds, there is hope. This, too, shall pass. The sun will rise again. All will be well. You have to take a moment (or an extra hour), to look for that hope on the horizon. It’s there, and it’s waiting for you.
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