PHOTOGRAPHY

Rising Sun

An inner reflection

This piece is as much about the sun rising within me as it is about the rising sun in our natural world. This is a reflection of how the rising sun makes me feel.

With the approach of fall, our earth tilts 90 degrees from the sun. Our days shorten. The rising sun becomes a precious commodity to be savored and relished.

Even though the sunrise changes this time of year and there’s limited daylight, a unique candle is lit within me. The changing season strikes a match setting off an inner glow reflecting the magic of the sun's rising.

Shortened days make the days so much sweeter. Each moment is a gem emanating warmth as I gather and scurry around the limited light.

Every encounter with the scarce skylight of the rising sun brings remembrances of times gone by and the anticipation of holidays and childhood laughter.

From the moment the sunrise warms my face, my whole being is invigorated. I am a ship in port whose anchor has been lifted. My ropes have been released to set sail into the vast sea of another day. The sun rising on the horizon is filled with endless possibilities. Fresh new hope is dispersed in the air.

I rise with the sun onto the entrance of each new day. I walk through the bright corridor of dawn, sheathed on every side in soft warmth. I feel the rising of the light within me as it illuminates my inner being with a bright new perspective.

Autumn light shines upon me as the sun sinks lower in the sky upon winter’s approach. I savor the freshly fallen sunlit dewdrops upon the moist morning grass. Ducks waddle with ease in the comfort of a sunny day. They slide into the little lake and paddle their sweet feet beneath the water, reflecting the sun around them.

Rays of new understanding shine upon my mind, and I turn towards the sun as a sunflower seeking wisdom from its life source. I search out the morning light. I seek ways to bask my soul with the infusion of sunshine to diffuse the lengthened fall shadows.

Resolutions and dreams bloom in the Autumn light. Ideas percolate in the fresh, clean air of a new season of life. I hold in my hands a freshly picked season of sunshine to behold and cherish. It spills through my fingers and disperses into all that surrounds me. I hold it to my bosom and radiate with its golden warmth.

Earth’s tilted rays sprinkle life into my being, becoming the golden orbs of my soul. The sun falls lower in the sky, and my heart rests with it. I wrap myself in the blanket of warmth that flattens upon me until winter solstice arrives.

The above photo is probably one of the most magical moments of sunshine I’ve ever witnessed. This was taken from my villa on the island of Baros, Maldives.

I nicknamed Baros the sunshine island, not only because of the beautiful views of the sun but because of the people who worked and lived there.

The Island of the Rising Sun

I was originally booked for another island and a much cheaper resort. My travel agent made an error, and I was upgraded to Baros island and a much nicer villa at no additional cost to me. It was definitely a serious upgrade and a moment of grace.

Normally traveling can be difficult for me because my husband has a disability. He walks with braces but cannot handle luggage or climb even small steps without my assistance. I carry all the bags or backpacks while he holds onto my arm for support when climbing steps.

He cannot carry plates of food without dropping them due to his balance issues. Usually, at buffets, I serve his plate first while he walks alongside me. I help him get seated. Then I serve my own plate.

I’m telling you all of this, so I can show you why I call this “the island of the rising sun.” Everyone there was like a rising sun to me, filled with beauty and inner light that warmed my heart.

The employees wouldn't let me prepare his food from our very first meal. They offered to prepare his plate for him. I thought they were just being polite, so I thanked them and told them it was unnecessary. They wouldn’t take no for an answer. They helped him at meals. I felt guilty for preparing my plate and kept looking over my shoulder to ensure he was okay. By the end of the week, I had acclimated.

It seems like such a small thing, but it meant the world to me. It warmed my heart in a way nothing else could. Comparing human kindness to the rising sun is no exaggeration.

I was so grateful to the waiters for their assistance and kept praising their efforts. My praise warmed their hearts towards us, and they offered us a tour of the grounds where the employees live. The specific reason for this was that they knew we both loved fruit. They had a Manzana rosa (rose apple) tree filled with fruit in the employee living area. They showed us the tree and let us pick some fresh fruit. From that day forward, a fresh bowl of rose apples was waiting for us every evening when we returned to our villa after dinner.

The sandy path to the restaurant was difficult for my husband to navigate due to his balance issues. He relied on my wrists to lean on, and after walking all around the island during the day, my wrists were covered in bruises.

The Maldivians who worked there were so kind that different staff members showed up at our villa at dinner time to hold my husband’s hand and assist him along the sandy path to the restaurant.

If I had to personify the magical rising sun, I would say the Maldivian people continue to shine on my heart to this very day.

Mia Verita, 2022

Thank you for reading.

Here are my Maldives Diaries from my publication on Medium. I started the pub a few years ago, but then I took time off from Medium to take care of my dad. I plan to add to the diaries as time allows until all fourteen days are published.

Here’s a poem I wrote on Medium about the rising sun.

This has been my response to “The Magical Rising Sun” prompt for the second week of November. I hope you’ve enjoyed it. I invite other writers here to share what the magical rising sun means to you.

Being from south Louisiana, living not far from New Orleans, I had to share the song “House of the Rising Sun.”

Thank you to all the hard-working editors of Reciprocal, Dr. Preeti Singh, Sahil Patel, and Yana Bostongirl, for hosting this story.

Thank you, Dr. Preeti Singh, for this inspiring prompt.

Here are a few other responses to this prompt that I found inspiring.

Aarti Tailor shared this lovely article.

Joyce Nielsen shared this wonderful article.

Mia Verita loves watching the sunrise. She enjoys sharing her story to encourage others. She enjoys photography, sketching, writing poetry, and sharing inspirational stories.

If you’d like to read all of Mia Verita’s stories and those of other Medium members, you can join Medium using her affiliate link. She’ll receive a small portion of the membership fee at no additional cost to you.