Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver

Today marks the first day of spring.

Amid the turmoil and stress, I find nature to be a place of peace and quiet rest. And, if possible, I take respite in a walk along the ocean. A beach meandering does wonders for the soul, but in the morning, especially so. I find it difficult to wake early, but the ocean calls in the most mysterious ways.

Imagine for a moment, the waves telling you, with every break along the sand, to shhh shhh and listen and feel and breathe in the salt-soaked air. And then the sun awakens to ease us with warm touching. A simple, yet wonderful welcome of a new day. Here is Why I Wake Early, another favorite poem by Mary Oliver:

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety—

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light—
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.