Chasing Light

Image by Joe from Pixabay 

"The greatest gift I ever received was the kiss of the sun on the days when I couldn't remember how to make my own light,"  

                           - Anne Taft Yoga Instagram

This morning I woke up early and hit the pavement in the darkness. Exercise doesn’t come easily to my daily routine, but I seem to have developed a soft spot for a run. Truthfully, it’s more of a jog-walk, but I digress. Before beginning, I stretch and set my watch to record my time as I head out into the black of early morning. Most houses are still dark. Occasionally I note a light flickering on and imagine someone working their way to the coffee pot. As my flashlight bounces on the pavement, I find myself tuning into all that is around me. My neighbor, his flashlight also shining and his podcast playing walks past with his dog. We exchange our usual good morning and move in opposite directions. 

As I continue, the early risers begin to move about; the sound of a car door, the start of an engine, the flicker of headlights, are few and far between at this hour. I try to keep control of my breathing as I near the midpoint of my run. I look up to see the sun beginning to paint the morning sky with promise. 

Sometimes I am sure this is the part that gets me out into the morning air: chasing light. When the black of night is behind me, and the sun begins to rise, it seems to open the possibility for the day; a reminder, even if things in the day get tough, to keep running toward the light. 

Sunrise is a gift. Apparently, I have seen over 20,000 sunrises so far, and interestingly, none of them have been the same, but they have always been. Life teaches us the sunrise always follows the dark of night. With that, I've also learned when life throws in a little darkness, the light will follow. Maybe the darkness is just a way to make us pay attention a bit more, to listen and notice what is right in front of us. In some seasons, night seems longer than in others, but I've found ways to reach toward the light. Here are a few of my favorites:

Find an anchor: What is the thing you love that can keep you grounded while you find your way? It may be baking, writing, exercise, painting, knitting, reading - or anything that brings joy. It's amazing what the mind can solve when the hands are busy. 

Turn toward the light: I know many people who use gratitude lists to find their way to the light because, apparently, finding one thing to be grateful for can make a big difference, like finding the light in the stars during the dark of night. For me, collecting other things is helpful when in this space of transition. Sometimes I write down an accomplishment in the day, a task completed, one thing that brought joy, or maybe something ordinary that caught my attention. 

Reach: Try something new, reach out to a friend (or an expert), or make lists to help you find your way into the light. When I think about the times I have found myself looking up at the stars while I wait for hints of morning, I have chosen different ways to reach toward the best next step. 

When you know the light will come it is easier to pause and look up at the stars. Life can throw obstacles, place mountains in our path, or push us in new directions. There are times when we find ourselves in the dark. There are periods of reset where we begin again. In all these times, keep running toward the light. It's the best each of us can do.