It's 4 AM
& I've never felt more alive.
My partner, Andy and I sleep entangled in each other at night.
This morning, his alarm went off before mine and he slid his arm out from under my neck where I was comfortably nestled.
“What time is it?”
“4 o’clock.”
I heard the softness of his feet meeting the cold floor as my eyes peeled open and I realized I was no longer wrapped in his body. A crisp swipe of fresh, January air blew inside from our cracked window and grazed my newly exposed cheek.
A familiar wave of alertness and excitement followed.
For as long as I can remember, the mornings have mystified me.
Rising before the sun, while a blanket of darkness still covers the sky, feels like returning home after a long trip.
Things are quiet.
In the mornings I hear faint and tiny footsteps as my curious cat, Lou, meanders around the corners of our home examining the contents of the new day. I hear water droplets and the wind. Perhaps a car passing by, but not usually. We live in a city and this is the only time of day when the sounds of hustle subsides.
Moments of newness float through the still air as I pace through our apartment, breathing in deeply and I often find myself peering outside to make sure the Earth is still with me.
She always is.
I try to wait a while before reaching for my phone. I find that as soon as I get on that thing, a day of rapid responding and “tuning in” follows and sometimes I just want to slow it all down.
I check in with myself.
I tune in to my mental state; how fast or slow my thoughts are moving, what my emotions are doing or not doing. I am struck with varying degrees of wanting to work, write and move. My creativity is peaked once I start observing my surroundings and I take advantage of this.
The state of organic inspiration is a stack of gold.
When I get it right, time flows. The early hours begin to dance into one another and things coast from this point forward.
I ride the wave.
I am intentional.
When I begin the day recognizing it’s beauty and basking in routine movements so often overlooked, I feel wholly alive and like everything I am… everything within me and around me, is one… and is enough.
Mantra of the Day
I am connected to this Earth and to myself.
Today I will direct my day and choose my thoughts to match the energy I am creating.
I am here. I am enough. I have all that I need.
Thank you for joining me here.
Take some time today to breath. Know you are wholly alive. Know you are safe. Know you have a home within yourself to return to.
Cheers for now,
-K