Good morning, Sunshine. It’s nice to see you.
Most of the year, I’m up before the sun. Don’t hate me, but I’m a morning person. I don’t even set an alarm anymore, I let my body tell me when it’s time to get up.
I love my mornings, when all is silent in the house. I journal or read or create in the quiet. While the world slowly lightens outside, I sit in my comfy chair and am in my own world. To be honest, I rarely notice the light coming on, or see the sun come up. I’m too busy in my internal world.
Until now.
Now I am still up early, but instead of reading and journaling, I am going out first, to hike. Just as I love the quiet of the early morning house, I love the silence of the early morning forest. I love being the first car to the trailhead, knowing the paths are my own. Just me and my dog and my iPhone, exploring the world. I knew I would enjoy the solitude. I knew I would enjoy the movement of my body. I knew I would enjoy the time in nature.
What I didn’t know I would enjoy so much: Greeting the sun.
It’s not just being in the sunshine, although that is wonderful after Oregon’s long, grey winters. It’s not just about the golden hour light, which is a photographer’s dream. It’s that I love to be there when the sun first touches the land. There is something special about being in that place and that time and seeing the long rays of light waking up the earth for the day. Me and the sun and the earth, together for the first touch of light. There is a beauty and a peace and a reverence in it I can’t quite explain. As if I’m part of something special, an ancient ritual that is repeated every day.
The sun and the earth don’t care if I am there, they will greet each other just the same. But when I am there to witness it, to capture it… I get to acknowledge and honor it. I say, Thank you, Sunshine, for bringing warmth and light to my day. I say, Thank you, Earth, for carrying me along the way. It reminds me that I am a small part of something much, much bigger.
I need that reminder. It’s all too easy for me to get wrapped up in my own internal world, living inside my mind. So while I miss my journaling and reading and creating time, I relish in what being outside to greet the sun brings me.
Each and every day.
July was not a prolific month for my photography. As I was mourning the loss of the month earlier this week, in the back of my head I was worriedly thinking, Will I be able to find a Photo-Heart Connection this month?? I had to dig deeper than ever before, but it was there. Finding the photo that made my heart sing, and writing the words that came along with it, makes me see that July is not a lost month. Getting out — being on vacation, gathering with family, going on hikes — and living was the important part of July. I need to exist and experience in the external world in order to fuel the creativity of my internal world. It all works together.
What is your Photo-Heart Connection this month? Did you have to dig deep or was it right there, waiting for you? Either way, the messages our heart has for us are important. I hope you’ll take the time to listen and join in.
I’ve been a morning person all my life — so much to experience in the early hours. Thank you for hosting this lovely meme.
Thank YOU for joining in!
I am a morning person also. You could find me this morning watching the sunrise on the beach. There is nothing like being out of doors in nature when the morning comes in.
Oh, sunrise over the ocean must be amazing. Being on the west coast, I just get sunsets. Lucky you!
There is something so magical about the dawn of a new day. I especially love it when I can experience it in solitude.
“Magical” is a great word for the feeling.
Oh, so that’s what morning looks like! Me, I’m a night owl – I love the quiet of the night. But, like you, I’m taking advantage of the summer and making sure to get out and enjoy the sun and the light every day. I just do it a bit later in the day!
Beautiful shot and lovely thoughts.
LOL! I sometimes envy you night owls, who have all of that nighttime energy to just go, go, go.
I am totally a fan of morning light and the solitude-your description of being “first” I can relate too. Golden light has always been a favorite for me. Sometimes I purposely try NOT to shoot it to stretch myself. I like this image and the sunflare and I like both crops.
Glad you took “me” time this past month. I think it’s very important. I need to take some morning “me” time. I have been so strict about going to the gym EVERY day that I have rarely given myself this gift you speak about here.
Thanks for the PHC. I always enjoy it.
The beauty of my hikes is that they are morning time, photography time and gym time all in one! Maybe not as intense as a gym, but I’ll do it more regularly and stick with it since I love it. I’m always glad to have you in the PHC! I enjoyed your post this month – made me think!
Oh… I feel the same than you about July. Wonderful photo-heart connection,love the photo and your text. I have to remember myself (almost every day) that I need to be a “morning person”, when I do that I feel much better but I have to be watchful, I am such a night owl. Hope I´ll create this healthy habit some day
BEAUTIFUL, Kat! We were thinking the same things this past month, only you were so much more eloquent about it. I love your lines : “Me and the sun and the earth, together for the first touch of light. There is a beauty and a peace and a reverence in it I can’t quite explain. As if I’m part of something special, an ancient ritual that is repeated every day.”
Thank you! I’m glad this spoke to your heart too. Heart connections often extend beyond ourselves, don’t they?
Sky blue, forest green, grass gold – and that wonderful sunshine illuminating it all. Having lived in Oregon for a very wet six months way back when, I truly understand the preciousness of the sun’s appearance. Your image really captures the feeling of summer. A great Photo-Heart Connection, Kat!
Thanks! I love how you’ve described the colors… your words describe summer to me too.
Such a beautiful morning scene! I admire your diligence in rising early and hiking! As I age I find myself having more problems with my macro nature photography. So much of it is on the ground! You’re inspiring me to get busy, strengthen my arms and legs and do some stretching!
I recommend trying yoga, Cathy! Along with my hikes I’m back into yoga. I’m taking a very gentle class once a week right now and really love it. It complements the activity with stretching and strengthening quite nicely. I hope to increase to more times a week eventually, when I’m ready.