By Joan Courtney, C.Ht., Unstuck Living

I admit it. I’m a morning person. That’s my time to appreciate the day. I’m wide awake at 5:00 a.m., even before the birds start chirping. If I sleep past sunrise, I feel I’ve lost something and nothing’s quite right. After I pull on my boots, I step outside to the radiance of soft sun rays. If I’m very fortunate, the sun will light up the clouds. To me, it’s almost magical. 

I notice so much. The dusty peach light begins to creep up over the mountains to the east. The variety of light – how it surges with vibrancy and fades into muted tones, the brief appearance of each hue, and the mood it creates – lasts only seconds. Quite soft and subtle, they begin to light the outer edges of the clouds with a soft apricot-colored tinge. The rest of the clouds are lightly illuminated in the anticipated rays of morning. But at that time, the delicate outlines are breathtaking.

Next, the sky slowly comes to light. A hushed, dark morning shifts into a hustling day in a heartbeat, so I savor these brief moments as they pass. It’s as if the world is beginning its new day, filled with hope and potential. And I feel the same. The sun slowly peeks over the horizon, and the clouds turn more colors than I can imagine. Each moment imprints a mini-snapshot in my mind’s eye. The predawn purples, giving way to pink and salmon spilling out onto the landscape. The gold that triumphs as the sun rises in the sky is equally beautiful in amazingly different ways. 

That quiet time

Having that quiet early morning time is precious to me. It’s comfortable to be the only human being around for a while. It’s time to put my mind on hold, to appreciate my world. A necessary time for me to recharge my batteries and refresh my ability to enjoy the beauty of nature. This is a familiar pattern for me, and I sink into a comfortable place in my mind. This is a well-remembered delight. 

I don’t know if it’s the changing colors, the increasing brightness, or the warming air, but there’s something special about it that encourages moments of unforced calm without effort. I’ll look up at the clouds and realize they were the only things on my mind for a space in time. A time of peace, relaxation, and contentment. 

Appreciate the day

Do you hustle through the day with no time to stop? Here are some tips to help you slow down:

• When? You may hit your stride in the morning. Or perhaps in the afternoon. Or maybe in the early evening. After you have moved along for a time, stop for a moment. A deep breath in, then back out, allows your body and mind to slow down.
• What? Look around you in nature. So much to experience… and appreciate. As you do this, notice the slower pace to this realm too. 
• How? Use your senses. Be specific about what you see. What you hear. What you feel. Maybe it’s the colors of a spectacular sunrise. Or the lilting song of a bird. Or a gentle breeze against your face. Slow down and savor the wonder. 

Enjoy those quiet moments of appreciation. Live unstuck.

Joan Courtney is a clinical hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner. Writing for Outdoors Southwest and other publications on the Mountain, she also ghostwrites bi-weekly posts on Facebook for Snoop., the former Canine Executive Officer of Unstuck Living.