Living in this seaside place I’ve become a bit of a sunset/sunrise addict. I can’t get enough of watching the spectrum of colors illuminate the sky as a new day dawns, or another day rests its weary head. Both are lovely in their own way, and offer a gift to its viewer.
Recently I spent time reflecting on WHY I love this cyclic occurrence as much as I do. Why have they become important? Why do I increasingly make time to be with them? Yes–I actually set my alarm clock to get up and watch the sun rise. And in the evening I take note of the sunset time (there’s an app for that!) and plan my evening/night accordingly. I do not make it every day, but I do make one or the other of them 4-6 days a week. Having the water to offer a reflection of the sky’s spectacle exponentially increases their beauty and impact. This may very well be why they have become important to my weekly routines.
Sunrises
While they usually are NOT as spectacular or stunning as a sunset, sunrises have other qualities to recommend them. I find they emanate peace, calm, and tranquility. Mornings, no matter where you are in the world, tend to be quiet(er). There is usually no or less wind. There are less people, and sometimes NO people around. There is a purity to the start of a new day that is unlike the flip side.
A tradition I’ve chosen when traveling is to get up on my last morning in a place and watch the sunrise. I did this in Australia a year ago January; I did it in Sarajevo last August and in Antalya this past October. In the dawn, before the sun cracks over the horizon, there is a moment when I can feel the pulse of the place, its resting heartbeat so to speak. Yes, with a sunrise there is a sense of purity. It’s a beginning and a start. The day begins with a bright and untainted canvas. And we have the hours ahead to color each as we see fit.
In our 24 hour cycle people seem to think that days start and end with the clock. At 00:00 the new day begins and it ends as it turns away from 23:59. I don’t feel that way. To me the day starts when the sun breaks over the horizon, giving us light and warmth. All the worries and fears that seem to bubble up in darkness are chased away. Anything is possible. A resolution can be managed; an alternate path illuminated.
Sunsets
Sunsets, on the other hand, are often a more collective experience. People are out and about–they certainly are here in Izmir–and it is a communal time. Gathering with friends or family seaside and wrapping up the day together over food and drink seems common. Others are walking, running, biking, or rollerblading. I usually listen to music and walk along the esplanade until I find an overhang that is empty. Then I sit and take in the fading sun, observe people, listen to seagulls call, and watch fishermen while I reflect on the day and my life in general. I practice gratitude in those moments.
Here in Izmir the sun sets over the water. Clouds make for the best and most glorious color schemes. Sunsets seem to share disruption and diversity–in colors, in air movement, in smells and the actions of people taking it in. There can be wind and agitation to the water which creates a different mood. The day is closing down after much activity and interaction.
Sunsets signify the closing, the end, the wrapping up of another rotation. It makes me think of Rob Thomas’s new song “One Less Day” in which he says he watches the “light go past my shoulder,” and how he’s one less day from dying young. I like this sentiment. I agree. As the sun drops below the horizon I am both thankful for the day behind me, and excited to see what the next sunrise will bring forth.
What about you…..do you prefer a sunrise or a sunset? What do they signify or mean to you? Where in the world have you experienced the most beautiful or unique ones?