Why I wake early

There's something strange and magical about camping. You don't necessarily sleep all that well at first, so you tend to be wide awake at the crack of dawn. That seems to be the whole point. There's a peace and a calm like no other when you're out in nature, watching the sun rise. 

On our trip, our friend Diana opened the morning yoga practices with incredible readings and I'm grateful to her for introducing me to the beautiful poetry of Mary Oliver, whose words touched me deeply. This one was a real gem:

Why I Wake Early

Hello, sun in my face.

Hello, you who make the morning

and spread it over the fields

and into the faces of the tulips

and the nodding morning glories, 

and into the windows of, even, the

miserable and the crotchety--

best preacher that ever was,

dear star, that just happens

to be where you are in the universe

to keep us from ever-darkness,

to ease us with warm touching,

to hold us in the great hands of light --

good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day 

in happiness, in kindness.

                                     - Mary Oliver