Sometimes the first few minutes of the day are the only quiet time I have. At first light, before the day has attained its energy and push, before agendas and lists and demands can form, before my mind has revved up with all its ideas and opinions and anxieties, I get out of bed, make a cup of tea and have myself a quiet sit.
For most adults, our entire day is crammed with planning and strategizing and problem solving. Our minds and bodies are in full gear as we rush into the bright bustle of our human life. This is good — it's good to be energized and engaged in activities that keep us alive and give us a sense of purpose.
But for me, taking the quiet 20 minutes or so at first light to sit in a chair and sip a cup of tea are equally precious and life-giving. This takes a little discipline, for this is not the time to make lists and figure out my day's agenda. There will be plenty of that soon enough. Instead, I try to focus my attention on the sensory experiences around me. The smell and temperature of the tea, the way it feels when I swallow it. The specifics of the taste: strong, bitter, caramel, milky, sweet.
And I also wake up to the experience of my body, such a bundle of aches and pleasures and needs. Again, I resist turning this into a list of do's and should's and try to just enjoy the fact that I have this body, that I'm alive in this body and, for this time at least, nothing needs fixing or changing or attending to.
Unless its the deepest winter, slowly the room brightens as the sun comes up, sometimes with full-on splendor and sometimes shrouded in fog and whispers. Occasionally a bird chirps, mixing in with the sound of the refrigerator, a car door slamming, a dog barking, a neighbor's cough. No matter what time of the year, its usually cool in the morning and I take comfort in the warmth of the tea, and the shelter of my tiny apartment.
Another day has begun, full of possibility. What will it bring? And how will I meet it? With what body, heart and mind will I meet it?
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I do the same,in like to get up when every one else is sleeping so that I can grab few minutes just for myself ,and I really cherish those precious minutes :)
When you are awake, and everyone else (or most everyone else) is asleep, there is something quieter, more settled about that part of the day. Not sure what it is.. for me it doesn't matter if it's in the beginning or the end of the day, but I love my time spent there.
Thank you for this very intimate piece. Yes, the early morning hours can be bliss, and when I do wake up, enjoy them intensley, instead of tumbling out of bed ungracefully and late, as I'm prone to and have been doing lately. I renew my vows to wake up in the early hours and have some time for myself.
This is a lovely piece of writing. There is nothing like a quiet cup or two of tea before everyone else is awake!
There is a rare morning when the baby and the husband sleep later than me. I get up - start the coffee, and cuddle up on the couch with my google reader. Precious moments.
I absolutely HATE getting up early. However, I like BEING up early - problematic, I know. On those few rare days when I am able to get out of bed early and linger over my coffee, the whole day gets a different feel to it.
I so agree with this piece. This is the best time of each day for me also. These moments give me time to reflect, appreciate and reminiscence. There's nothing better.
When I was younger, I loathe waking up early. Now that life has become much busier with work, school, commute, social commitments, I look forward to waking up before everyone else. I can squeeze in some leisure reading, slowly savor my breakfast and watch the world outside slowly come to life again, without any distractions.
This is an excellent reminder of times in the past where I've loved the morning. Also, a great way to deal with loved ones who use the snooze button for 45 minutes. I might as well just get up the first time and enjoy!