I haven't been sleeping well for the last while.
Actually, I haven't slept well in a very long time. It's not that I go to bed
late - I'm generally in bed by 10ish. It's the staying asleep that escapes me.
Lately, The Night Shift seems to be in overdrive!
Case in point: a week ago Tuesday. I watched a beautiful
sunset from my window and then went to bed around 10. I woke a couple of times
but when I woke to a massive hot flash at 3:31AM Wednesday morning. I tried to
go back to sleep - but that was not to be. I tossed and turned till 4:40 when I
finally gave up.
I had set the alarm for 4:45 that morning, as I wanted to
go to Superstore (which opens at 6) to get groceries. I do this early wake up
for grocery shopping every couple of weeks - assuming that there is enough
items on sale and my pantry/fridge is wanting of enough to make the trip
worthwhile.
I REALLY don't like getting up that early
by any stretch of the imagination, but I do like grocery shopping that early.
The produce is fresh and the morning staff there know me and are more than willing to help me find items I need.
So, sleepily, I arose at 4:40. I've done this early
morning routine so many times, I can pretty much do it on auto-pilot! Given
that I'd had so little sleep, the auto-pilot mode was much needed that morning!
I did my stretches and had a muffin and juice as I listened to CBC radio 1. It
is local as of 5:30 and I wasn't any more alert or happy by then as Marcy said
it was only 10C and a bit of light rain falling in the downtown area.
Generally I like the cooler weather - but that morning - ALL
I wanted was to crawl back into bed!
Alas, the need for fresh produce won out. I finished
getting ready and walked out the door at 6:00.
As I walked to the bus stop, I felt an occasional drop of
rain on my jacket's hood. I also noticed that the sky was dark and grey to the
west. Even so, there was the beginnings of an orange hue above and reflecting
off of the buildings around me.
When I got to the bus stop, I turned to face east...
Oh my! What a sight to behold! The night sky was now alight
with the beautiful colours of sunrise!
Why hadn't I brought my camera with me? If I'd have known
my bus times better - or been more alert, I probably would have come back for
it. As it was, my bus would be there in a couple of minutes so I decided to
just admire the beauty of the sunrise.
Near the horizon was a creamy - almost white light as the
sun was just beginning to poke the skyline. From there, the colours flowed into
the morning sky. The creams blended into shades of yellows, pale orange, peach and
amber hues. As the grey clouds from the west met the colourful eastern sky,
they too were transformed into shades of orange, amber, pinks, crimsons and violets!
The little bit of rain we had just received still
lingered on the streets, reflecting the multitude of shades from the sky - as
if to amplify the spectacular scene even more.
It was breathtaking!
I watched the sky in awe as I rode the bus east and its' quick
turn north before it headed west. I transferred at Osborne Station but
continued to admire the movie of the sky as it unfolded into a new day.
As the bus turned west onto Grant, I faced the front of
the bus and was greeted with a completely different perspective.
I saw more of those dark grey clouds above and to the
west, but I also saw another view...
The buildings, trees, vehicles, signposts and even the
hydro poles were all glowing in the colourful sunrise that was behind us. The
landscape appeared to be a rich tableau, bathed in golden hues! Otherwise
ordinary scenery, suddenly appeared rich beyond belief - like something from a
fairy tale of a golden land where anything is possible if we'd only believe it
could be.
By the time I came out of Superstore, the grey clouds
covered most of the sky. The sun had fully risen and was hiding behind some of
those grey clouds. To the east, there was a narrow bluish white horizon that
met that line of clouds. It was being illuminated by the hiding sun.
Our city and our surroundings aren't really bathed in
gold and we often forget the wonders of nature. We forget how fortunate we are
to live in a society with freedoms, a land with creative and intelligent beings
who strive to make this an even better place to thrive and call home. We forget
to see the simple, everyday things as we do our daily commutes and run our
errands.
Now, the more cynical among us - and we all know at least
one or two of those types - would have only seen the dark grey clouds that
covered the western horizon.
Yes, I saw those dark clouds but I didn't allow them to
dampen my day. Even though I was sleep deprived, I chose to see the beauty. I
chose to see the potential for what could be.
Whether we see the sun or the illumination from it, it is
always there. It can be hot, cold, cloudy or sunny and the beauty is always
there if we look for it. Even if we have no money in our accounts we are rich
in so many ways.
Not getting enough sleep can certainly make it harder to
function the next day - and even harder to focus on your surroundings. It is
easy to lose perspective and close in on one's self rather than pausing for
even a minute to see the bigger picture.
It is all in how we choose to see what surrounds us.
Every day is a new beginning. A fresh chance to face the
world. To embrace what life has to offer us.
If our minds and hearts are open, we can always find beauty
in our surroundings, in nature and in life. A chance to expand our knowledge
and our visions.
There will always be golden possibilities....
dn
