The magical rising sun prompt

The Magical Rising Sun Has Captivated Man Forever

How the sunrise affects me

I come alive when I see the sun rise to announce, “It’s a new day.” Whatever the circumstances in my life, it reminds me that I can begin anew. It feels like there is a vibrant energy flowing through my veins.

The world appears still and calm. The air smells fresher somehow. The colors reflected in the clouds and sky are more vibrant. Because the sun is lower on the horizon, the rays travel further in the atmosphere. The blue light scatters so that the reds and oranges are more visible.

The greatest impact on my body has been after twilight, when the sun bursts over the horizon. The entire earth awakens! I’ve sensed this most on cycling adventures. The emerging rays seem to infuse you with energy.

A sunrise can forecast your day

Ragbrai is a famous annual ride across Iowa the end of July. Cyclists across the world fly here to take part. There are families, Scout groups, and representative military riders. The camaraderie is outrageous, with costumes, decorated bike helmets, and even weddings. Imagine seeing over ten thousand cyclists stream down a country road past farmland. Iowa is not flat, a surprise for many.

I have ridden Ragbrai with two of my children. We left our tent at 4:30 am, ate a pancake breakfast, and biked while the sun rose to greet us. That way we avoided the crowd, cycled during the cool hours, and arrived at our destination by 2:30 pm. July temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in the Midwest.

I can remember the blazing sun that greeted us while cycling in Hungary. The air was smoggy, humid, and HOT. Again, we started early to ride in the cool morning hours. There was no air conditioning in our homestays, so we suffered and sweat each night.

Some of my favorite sunrise experiences happen while climbing snow-covered mountains at dawn. The rays of the emerging sun bathe it in purple, mauve and pink hues. The wonder and beauty invigorates us to keep climbing to the summit.

Science and Medicine report the effects of a sunrise

The light from the sun contains all the colors of the rainbow. Each color has a different wavelength and reaches our Earth in different concentrations.

Watching a sunrise gives you a better sense of gratitude for this Earth. When you’re entranced by its natural beauty you’re free of distractions. Your mood gets a boost. Inflammation and depression diminish . It may even help us get better sleep at night.

Did you know that the rays of the early morning sun, from 7am to 9 am, generate the most vitamin D?

Our bodies respond to light as a signal to be awake.

“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

What is the spiritual meaning of a sunrise?

The Egyptians used to worship the sun as a divine Being. Christians regard it as a symbol for Jesus. Often churches orient towards the East, so the people can worship in the direction of the rising sun.

The sunrise offers the opportunity to start over, be in the present, and let go of yesterday’s troubles. Daybreak reminds us to live a life of giving rather than receiving.

The sun symbolizes life, energy, positivity, clarity, and confidence. It’s a large part of our lives. It gives warmth and promotes the growth of crops. It is one of the most revered symbols around the world. Its gravity keeps all planets and space debris in orbit.

This article is written in response to the nature prompt, the magical rising sun, by Dr. Preeti Singh

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