This past week, one of my best friends and I spontaneously decided to wake up really early to watch the sunrise on a scenic overlook above Route 295. We woke up at 4:30 a.m., she came to pick me up, and we took the 30-minute drive down 295 while listening to a playlist that was perfect for those early hours. As we got to the overlook it was approaching 5:15 a.m., meaning we had some time to spare before the sun started to rise. The overlook was decorated with locks with people’s names etched into them, wedding dates, and other personal touches that we took the time to emerge ourselves in. Even with the few cars that occasionally drove under us and sometimes honked (which we both greatly appreciated), there was a captivating silence that we both acknowledged and admired. There was something so oddly comforting in knowing that I was awake before the majority of people around me and that I had this moment to myself, shared with a close friend. We sat down in the middle of the overlook facing the trees where the sun was soon to rise above and waited it out. Finally, we saw the glow of the sun start to reflect onto the clouds, and it wasn’t soon after that when we began to see the sun itself begin to peek out above the trees. It was truly a captivating moment that I appreciated at the time itself and even more looking back on it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than any sunrise or sunset I’ve been able to witness in my life.

Although sunrises happen each and every morning, it’s so different when you are fully aware of the occurrence and completely submerge yourself into watching every little inch that the sun moves up. It was an experience that helped me ground myself and to help me feel small and insignificant in the best of ways. It reminded me that nature will take its course no matter what happens and that nature doesn’t stop for anything, despite whatever is happening with who/what inhabits it. Humans seem to believe that we are the strongest force on Earth when in reality nature overpowers everything we do. There’s just simply nothing more spectacular to me than nature that we get to witness every day; something so magnificent that we overlook and take for granted.

Sunrises, in my opinion, signify a new beginning. With every sunrise comes a new day, a chance to start over, a chance to right your wrongs, a chance to live, to learn, and to love. You are never 100 percent guaranteed another day on this earth, so take each and every sunrise you get to witness with extreme gratitude and appreciation. And don’t forget the sunsets either; they mean you did have the privilege to experience another day on the planet that we get to call home.

I hope this inspires you to wake up early one morning, watch the sunrise, and create your own meaning behind the importance of grounding yourself through nature.