There is something special about rising before daybreak and witnessing the dawn of a new cycle of celestial time as we know it on the planet Earth. The beginning of a new day never disappoints those folks who are disciplined enough to rise and witness the occasion. To be fair, it may also be a behavior bordering on stubborn willpower with a bit of insomnia, a propensity to enjoy physical discomfort, and old age thrown in for good measure. Daybreak marks the incipient stage of a new life cycle (experience) in our daily lives, and it is that period just at dawn's first light when all biologic activity seems to be awakening to a renewed beginning. First light has become the period of the day I cherish most, as it represents a renewed chance to work to get it right with my inner self, and to be one with the planet. Standing as a solitary presence in darkness, observing the first signs of light breaking across the horizon, the sharpness of the cold early morning air, witnessing brief periods of a gentle breeze that disturb the silent slumber of branches colliding together with a sparse collection of leaves still geometrically aligned on tree branches represents everything critically important at that single instance in time. 

​

Evening dusk, sunset, daybreak, and sunrise are the periods of our day when life begins to slow down (evening dusk), and speed up (morning dusk/daybreak). As the day begins to darken following the lowering of the Sun toward the western horizon (actually its position is due to rotation of the Earth), the sounds and movements of a day’s activity begin to wane. One’s ears again becomes sensitized to the rhythmic pulse of the natural environment. The sounds of crickets rubbing their hind legs together has always been a tranquil sound at sunset. The flutter of birds can be heard readjusting their activity to a more purposeful pursuit in search of that last swallow of food, water, and the peaceful solitude of a night’s shelter. Other animals can be seen at spring fed local watering holes replenishing their thirst following the activity of a cold, winter day. As sunset proceeds to darkness, the nocturnal creatures begin to stir. The hunt for food begins on yet another cold, snow-covered winter day.