by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH
I have an unpopular opinion to express: I like mornings.
Even as a kid, I woke up early — really early. Not 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. Early before the crack of dawn. People would say, “Why are you up in the middle of the night?” But waking up between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m. always felt natural to me.
Growing up in small-town Iowa, I rode the bus to school every day. Even though we lived closest to town on our route, we were the first stop at 7:00 a.m. So my dad started waking me up at 5:00. It was a whole routine. I was slightly conscious as I heard him downstairs throwing wood into the furnace. I could smell the wood embers drifting through the house as the backup furnace turned off. I would stay in bed until he opened my door and said it was time to get up. His words the night before — “5:00 comes awful early” — always rested in my mind as I tried to wake up.
I finally dragged myself out of bed to take a long, hot shower. I fixed my hair in our three-way bathroom mirror, brushed my teeth, and washed my face with Phisoderm, which is probably why I had such a clear complexion throughout high school. Then came the long task of styling my hair and getting dressed before my sister knocked on the door at 6:00 a.m. After that, I went back to my room to curl my hair, put on makeup, examine every detail of my face, and — because this was the rule — make my bed and clean my room before leaving. Anything left out would be placed on top of my bed when I got home.
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| I love walking in the morning and seeing the sun come up over the foothills. Photo by: Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH |
As an adult with a family at home, I still woke up at 5:00 a.m. I was always the first one up. I went downstairs, made coffee, and started cooking breakfast. And I did not just put out cereal. I cooked actual breakfast every single day — waffles, biscuits and gravy, ham and eggs, French toast with strawberries, breakfast quesadillas, and mini breakfast tacos. I even kept a calendar so I would not repeat a breakfast in a month. You would be surprised how many ways you can make breakfast.
At 6:00 a.m., I went upstairs and said, “Rise and shine! It is going to be a great day today.” Then the morning rush began. We always sat down to eat together before leaving the house by 7:00. When everyone left, I returned to a quiet morning of cleaning, grocery shopping, budgeting, and — around 11:00 — teaching, writing, or scoring.
Even now, Sunday mornings are my quiet time. Everyone knows not to interrupt. I sit with my coffee, my breakfast, and my dog. No television, no laptop, no phone. Just stillness. That reset clears my mind for the week ahead. I also love walking on Sunday mornings and feeling the cool air on my face.
The Best Thing That Happened Today
It is still morning, so I will simply say this: I am grateful for waking up in my warm bed today.
10 Morning Things I Am Grateful For
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I am grateful for the leash that lets me walk my dog.
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I am grateful for the dog-waste bags available where I walk.
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I am grateful for the running water in my home.
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I am grateful that I do not have to go outside to use the bathroom, as many people in the world do.
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I am grateful for the comfortable chair I am sitting in.
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I am grateful for the cup of coffee I am drinking.
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I am grateful for the people who made my coffee cup.
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I am grateful for cheerful store clerks.
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I am grateful for my friend who works at the store where I bought the cup. She is the reason I frequent that store.
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I am grateful for my slippers that I can wear inside or outside.
10 Things I Am Grateful For Today
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I am grateful for appearing in Bold Journey Magazine.
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I am grateful for everyone who reads my writing.
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I am grateful for the internet.
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I am grateful that we carry a computer in our pockets every day.
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I am grateful that I was able to grocery shop this morning without leaving my house.
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I am grateful for the unseasonably warm weather.
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I am grateful for the people who check on me.
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I am grateful for my high school writing teacher who challenged me to be a better writer.
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I am grateful for the writers who inspired me to become one myself.
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I am grateful for all the books I have read.
Inspired by The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, this gratitude practice has been adapted into a self-paced 28 Days of Gratitude course for readers who want a simple structure without pressure. An optional guided journal, Bragging About You, is available for deeper reflection.
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