Sun Comes Up......Sun Goes Down; I Love it Either Way

I can't speak for everyone when I say this, but there is nothing like waking up in the morning, the smell of the wet dewed grass mixing in with a cool breeze passing by. At the perfect moment, Mr. Sun creeps between the cracks of my window blinds, engulfing my face in a beautiful aura of orange light and warmth. I grab my I-pod, slink out of bed and put on my slippers. The birds chirp loudly and fly away when I open the balcony door, but that just adds to the euphoria of a beautiful Saturday morning. I sit in my lawn chair, play my "Morning Playlist", and watch the majesty of the sun as it rises over the trees, changing the sky into a brilliant hue of golden yellow. Everything is so peaceful, so calm, so serene; Sunrises, to me, mark the innocent part of the day. There is no stress from bills, terrible bosses, loud neighbors or other life distractions that make you forget to maintain your inner happiness. At sunrise, there is only promise of another day, promise that "maybe this day will be better", promise that "I will get through this day with my sanity and peace of mind", and promise that "I will never let the trials and tribulations of life stop me from looking for the joy and love that is out there." Every morning, for the past 9 years, I listen to the same songs at the same time of day. Every day, a new surge of optimism ignites in my soul and I am ready to take on whatever awaits in the world.

Sunsets are the opposite for me. For me, the best part of the sunset is when it begins. The sky turns this mesmerizing shade of vanilla white while the sun grows bigger and more brilliant in color as the it settles in for the night. There I am, with the I-pod again, but this time I got my "Evening Jog Playlist" blasting in my ears while I jog on the trail near my apartment. I make sure to jog at a certain time of day so that I can get the maximum release of endorphins I can. I don't know much about why the sun makes me feel so good at certain times of day, but it does. There are so many things sunsets mean to me. They mean "You've made it through one more day". They mean "The stress of the day is now over". But most of all, sunsets to me mean "There is still beauty that soars up above and sheds it's light upon the chaos and discord of society". It's the last part of the day that looks peaceful before the blackness of night follows.

When life stresses you out and you feel there is no beauty in anything, look to the sky in the morning and in the evening. The sunrise is the moment that you tell yourself that you are going to make this new day count and let the rays of the sun engulf your soul and be the compass to your steps. The sunset is the wind down of the day. It is the time that you look at what you have accomplished for that day, and what you will accomplish in the future. It's a time of reflection and relaxation for you and everything around you. Whether the sun is rising in the East or setting in the West, that gorgeous orb of orange/yellow goodness serves as a reminder for us that even in the darkest of hours, the light is just around the corner. So, if you find yourself with a free early morning or evening, take a moment and just let the sun shine on you. You'll be surprised how serene and tranquil it makes you. Thanks readers. Leave comments and feedback at the bottom, if you please. Have a great (and Sunny) day.