Billi Alberta
It’s 4:45am, pitch-black outside, in the middle of summer. The alarm goes off. I think about hitting snooze and nestling into my cozy, warm blankets for a little longer. The thought feels amazing. And then I remember I planned to go to the Dunvegan for sunrise. Why am I like this….?
I roll out of bed and throw on some comfy clothes, half asleep. Luckily, I thought of my future self and set the coffee machine the night before. The smell of it slowly perks me up for my morning expedition.
I grab my camera bag, my dog, my hot coffee, and hit the road.
Everything feels so calm on the drive. I pass by very few cars, mostly just the odd semi…as most people do not wake up at ridiculous times to catch the sunrise, lol. I sip my coffee while listening to my morning playlist, which soothes my soul.
A sliver of red, outlines the horizon as the sun starts its rise. As we descend into the river valley, Doug (my dog) starts getting absolutely fired up, so naturally I also get fired up.
Finally, we are here. I release Doug from the car and we begin our walk along the river banks. There is no one around, other than the odd deer up high on the bank, quietly grazing. I focus on each and every step over the bumpy, muddy rocks.
A slightly cool breeze kisses my cheeks, making me feel so awake. The sound of the flowing water washes over my mind. The birds begin to wake up and sing with pure bliss, soaring from tree to tree.
Now, the moment I’ve been waiting for…The sun starts to light up the tops of the tall banks. Slowly I watch as it paints the valley gold, minute by minute. The ripples in the water catch the light and sparkle magically. A smile spreads across my face. I feel peace and excitement pour into my heart.
Every inch of my body is in this present moment, soaking it in.
Everything is coming alive right in front of me. Complete peace settles my every nerve, like a still pool of water within me. The dirt beneath my feet, grounds me. The golden rays beam towards me, warming my skin. I feel energized and vibrant. My mind is clear. Nothing else matters right now. This is it.
THIS is what life is. I am in love.
I thank myself for having the mental toughness to get out of bed so darn early. The feeling of staying in my cozy blankets versus this, does not even compare.
Ever since I started waking up for sunrise, my days have completely transformed. I see the world in a different light now. The little things that used to bother me, just don’t anymore. My focus has now shifted to seek out every beautiful thing around me. The way steam comes off the water or how a tree looks gold in the morning light. This stuff is way bigger. Way more important. It is pretty clear that I can leave the other stuff behind.
Its all here for us, right at the tips of our fingers, everything we have ever dreamed of. All the beauty, love and peace. The world is an abundant and alive place. It is all staring us in the eyes. We just have to be willing to see it.
The funny thing is, you can’t buy this feeling or ask someone else for it. You have to go out and find it for yourself.
If you are feeling dull or low, I encourage you to do the hard thing. Get up, and go see the world around you. It’s literally begging you to see its beauty and greatness. Life isn’t meant to be boring. Time isn’t meant to just pass. Go discover something that makes your entire soul light up. There is no limit to how incredible life can be. It won’t come and get you. It is up to you to throw yourself out there and see what happens. Trust me, its worth it a million times over. The biggest risk someone can take, is to do nothing. What are you waiting for?
Life is now.
Written by: Billi Alberta