NATURE WRITING. PHOTO ESSAY
In Awe With the Sunrise Hours
A twilight moment too beautiful to be real
As the days are getting shorter and the sun begins to rise later I get to experience more of it. More of the awe of the dawn. I get to see the sun rising behind the mountains and above the fog in the valley almost daily.
In my younger years, I used to be a full-time sunset lover. I still am. But I also learned to cherish those peaceful morning hours over the years.
Sunrise vibes are different from the sunset ones. They are more silent. But more powerful. I feel like the beauty of a sunrise doesn’t endure as long as the one in the sunsets. But that makes every moment of it even more special.
Not many people get up to watch the sunrise. And those who do, are often too busy getting to work or catching the bus to realize what’s happening in the sky.
All of that adds up to the power of a magical sunrise.
Some of them leave me speechless. Like this morning. My husband had just left home to get to his German classes when I switched on the kettle to make myself a cup of tea. I glanced out of the window and saw the haze. A regular sight these days. I can’t remember a day in the last week when there wasn’t any fog hanging in the valley.
But then I looked further. Down the valley. And… oh wow! Where’s my camera? I need to capture this moment now. It’s gonna be gone within a second.
Which was true. Kind of. I took a picture out of the window and even stepped onto the terrace to get a wider view of this morning scene. It was cold outside. Like freezing temperatures-like cold.
Back inside I grabbed my tea. Nice and warm. And comforting. A smile flashed over my face. Life is beautiful. It surely is. You just need to open your eyes and look around you.
And maybe wash the sand off your eyes from the night’s sleep.
Then I looked again at the window. And again, I was in awe. I had been right. The moment was gone. The moment of the beauty I captured in the first image was surely gone. But that doesn’t mean the magic was gone.
The sky had changed. To a different beauty.
Now, the sun was peaking through behind the mountain. Sun rays were falling onto the quaint valley. The fairytale village got lit up while there was still a layer of morning haze hanging above the forest.
I ignored my morning tea for a moment and stepped out onto our terrace again. Initially, I just wanted to get one pretty shot of the sunrise for my photo-a-day challenge. But soon it was clear I had captured enough for a separate article.
And now I was filled with amazement and happiness. The right combination to start a new day. And I was inspired to write. Not just about the beauty of a sunrise. But about so much more.
That is what I love about this flat we’re staying in. It lets me connect with nature in such a special way.
Maybe because the flat is small and we almost always have the door open. Or the windows at least. The bird’s songs become our music in the house. We don’t own a radio or stereo equipment.
Maybe it’s because our windows are so big. Or because the windows are facing the valley. It’s like watching a National Geographic documentary. Just that it is real life.
Maybe it is because the forest is so huge and captivating. It takes us into mesmerization.
Whatever it is that makes me indulge in this beauty. I love it.
And everything that amazes, fascinates, and excites me is always worth sharing with you, my loyal readers. Because you give back so many kind words. So much appreciation. And smiles. I love smiling. And I love receiving and giving smiles.
It’s something I’m trying to give back to the world.
At least one smile a day.
One smile at a time.
And if you also smiled looking at these photographs you might consider signing up for my newsletter where I share more of nature’s beauty. Or you can become a Medium member for just 5$ a month and receive unlimited access to my and other readers’ work out here (affiliate link.)
