The break of dawn arrives in the tiny town of Easton, Pennsylvania just as it does every morning. You can hear the sound of birds singing from deep within the pine trees welcoming the sun back from its slumber.
The glistening shine of dew covers lawns in every neighborhood and somewhere in Palmer Township a new day has begun.
I’m an early riser. A morning person. I know my numbers are diminishing and it seems as though I may be the last of a dying breed. Most people can’t believe that if it’s 7 am (even on weekends) and I am still in bed I feel like I am missing out on something.
But ironically, like clockwork I am usually up before then. I have some kind of internal thing going on inside that alerts me when it is time to rise. It’s not strong enough kung-fu to where I can say in my head “5:15 am”, close my eyes and the next time I open them it is that exact time. But the fact of the matter is that on days that I work the alarm will rarely ever have a need to rouse me. I’m THAT good.
You see mornings are something I long for. A time most others take for granted and would like to skip altogether if possible in favor of slumber. But not me. Nothing can compare to that quiet time in the early hours of the day. It awakens the senses. Seeing the morning light of a new day, listening to the birds singing outside an open window, feeling the air as it passes through, the smell of fresh coffee brewing, the taste of bacon. From my point of view, it’s hard to imagine someone NOT wanting this same thing.
Critics will claim that you can have all of these things when ever you wake up but I beg to differ. It’s not just the act of drinking the coffee or hearing the birds as much as it is the “experience”. To know that through some divine miracle you’ve been given a new morning and you have the entire day ahead of you. What will you do with it?
It’s a time when you can relax and reflect on the events of the day (whether they be school, work or even nothing at all) without rush or worry. Plenty of time to read the newspaper or Internet blogs for those 21st Century types.
Here’s another reason to like mornings: It’s the only me time you may get before your children (who, ironically as they age tend to become non-morning persons) come barreling down the stairs demanding breakfast.
Sadly though, there is one con to this malady my friends claim I am “suffering” from. The trade-off for getting up early means obviously going to bed early also. Unless I am out somewhere already I rarely stay up past 10 pm. I am more than tired by then. But just one look at programming on television at that time of the night is enough to send anyone running for the sheets so it’s not like I am missing anything.
Unfortunately, this is where family and friends usually find reason to ridicule me because of my “school night” sleep pattern.
Call me an old man if you must but I’m not ashamed. I prefer to look at it this way: The sooner I fall asleep the closer I am to morning.
Good Morning!
go.Jimmy.go 
Ah…yes, we are a rare people, Jim. I feel as though my entire day is shot if I actually sleep in (which is as you described in the 7-7:30 time frame). I am reading a book called “Quiet” by Susan cain…it is about introversion and extroversion and the power of quiet for those of us who need it and the power introverts can have. Never thought of myself as one, but if I do not get my morning “quiet” I am of little use for the rest of the day.
My family doesn’t get why I don’t like to sleep in. I honestly have days where if I wake up on a weekend and it’s, say 8:30…i’m like “Oh crap! I’m missing the day!”. Even if I have absolutely nothing to do I just need that quiet time.
As you are aware, I too am one of those morning people. There is something about the first light; the stillness and the solitude. An early morning walk with the dog is a time to gather my thoughts and try to determine my path for the day.
Then it’s time to turn on the rock and roll, get into the internet world and get as much done as you can, before the rest of the world realizes you’re awake. The eventuality of the workday will jolt your butt into reality, but for those few wonderful moments of early morning peace…the world is what we want it to be…ours alone.
kath
I totally agree with you. Getting up early is the greatest. It’s getting a head start on everyone else. I can’t remember the last time I actually woke up to an alarm clock.
So true, except for my phone, I don’t own an alarm clock. Never use it, never oversleep…never sleep. hmm, maybe that’s the problem.
Well written Jim..as always! I wish I could say I relate…but alas I am NOT a morning person. Probaby has something to do with the fact that I don’t sleep well during the night. I’m awake a 150 times per night…or it feels like it. So it always seems like I’m just getting into a good sleep when that mean ole alarm clock goes off!
Its kinda funny. My dad and I are alike. Don’t talk very much in the a.m. Have to get goin first. My mom however…complete opposite! When I still lived at home….it would drive me crazy! HA! She’d be yacking about my plans for the day….and did I remember to do this or that..yadda, yadda, yadda. And I’d be like “just let me go back to bed!” LOL
Perhaps if I could ever get this sleeping thing figured out…I could enjoy the mornings like you! 🙂
Alicia
I actually sleep terrible at night too. But in my case I think it actually has made me a morning person. I figure if I can’t sleep anyway I might as well get up!
Your Mom sounds like a true morning person!
Don’t really know why, I just love the idea of sitting downstairs in the quiet drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.
🙂 Love mornings…thank you for sharing…
Thank you for reading! Have a great day!