Every day can bring new opportunities and new challenges. Some better than others and all offering lessons learned. It can take strength to take on each new day and the choice we each have is how we decide to approach it.
When I woke today at 5am I recognized immediately that it was going to be a full day. As I prepared the coffee and threw out the garbage I saw the crescent moon and stars and decided the sky was beckoning to provide a bit of encouragement.
With 2 1/2 hours before my first meeting at 7:30am I decided to find a sunrise. The winter sunrises while cold are better aligned on the Connecticut shore than in the warmer months. It is definitely harder to self motivate but I decided to give it a shot.
I arrived at Calf Pasture right behind the guard as he was opening the entry gate at 7am. The sky was already glowing marvelous colors in anticipation of the sunrise around 7:20am.
I loved the backdrop of the lighthouse and boardwalk with the ducks gathering in the water’s glow. It truly was invigorating to breathe in the cold air while running around finding all the opportunities and the gifts of focusing my attention on the opportunities surrounding me.
I then had to make a big decision! Do I stay by the ducks or do I go on the boardwalk for the actual sunset! While my day will be filled with many more complex decisions to be made, I allowed myself this half hour to focus on the sunset and where I should be.
I determined that if I sprint, I could likely do both. Ready, set, sprint!
I decided to be bold and left my cell phone and purse to capture the sunrise in time elapse mode as I sprinted down the boardwalk. If you move your eyes to the boardwalk in the clip, in addition to the sunrise, you will see me sprinting back and forth.
It was surreal to capture the sunrise in my lens as the lighthouse reflected its rays as well. Ahh but alas, could there be a better view from the shore. It was time to sprint back!
Ah but then the sun started to disappear behind the clouds. At first disappointed I realized it was 7:25! I had five minutes to return to the car for the 7:30 call! Yes! Mission accomplished. I can now face the day!
Pivot and Pause in New England 