Rise and shine, fellow scribblers! This year, I'm diving deeper into daily journaling, continuing with a more natural structure into my time management, taking intentional steps to sustain a harmonious balance between my work and personal life, fostering greater dedication to both my professional and personal aspirations…Essentially, This next chapter of my life is about embracing each day with gratitude and creating space for the simple joys whilst being aware and courageous in my decisions.
Alongside the journal entries and cold dipping, I'm dedicating to enjoy more of life’s adventures! Through both work and personal trips I’m planning to travel more, meet new people, and cherish the connections made along the way. This part of the book is about finding joy in the ordinary, appreciating the moments that make each day unique.
As I step into 2024 with a stripped-down, bare-faced authenticity it feels like I’m reclaiming a part of myself that got lost along the way. For the first time in a long while, I'm shedding the layers of pretense and stepping into the new year as my most authentic self. It's a declaration of my readiness to be the master of my own destiny, deliberately choosing who holds significance in my life. No more succumbing to the pressure of people-pleasing just for the sake of it. This year is about rediscovering joy in the ordinary, appreciating the unique moments that shape each day, and, most importantly, charting a course where I am the one in control.
Daybreak
As I start my day in the quiet hours of each morning, my journal becomes a haven for thoughts, dreams, and the whispers of a brand new day. I'm inviting you to share snippets from my morning musings in the hopes that they echo with the quiet reflections you might find in your own sunrise moments. I know that most people journal at night, before bed, which is a great way to clear the head before sleep and I find myself doing this on occasions when I have a lot going on in my head, but really, for me, it’s more about settling into my day and preparing myself to be productive for the day.
Here, you can expect a weekly peek into the unfiltered pages of my journal—a mix of introspection, fleeting moments, and the kind of poetry that only seems to surface when the world is still wrapped in the soft hush of dawn.
“ Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.”
Hibernation
Hibernation conjures a myriad of connotations…a term not confined to the natural world alone. It suggests a pause, a deliberate retreat into solitude, and a period of introspective quietude. In the realm of personal growth, hibernation can be a transformative cocoon, a time to shed old habits and emerge with renewed vigor. Socially, it might imply a temporary withdrawal for self-reflection or a recalibration of priorities. Creatively, hibernation is the gestation period before a burst of innovation. The term holds layers of meaning, from the bear's winter slumber to a metaphor for the ebb and flow of human existence, inviting us to explore the subtle yet profound shifts that occur when we allow ourselves the grace of retreat and restoration.
Hibernation, often associated with the dormancy of winter in the natural world, offers a compelling metaphor for the way we approach the start of a new year. Instead of the abrupt awakening often associated with the turning of the calendar, consider embracing a gentler commencement. Starting the year in hibernation, akin to the slow stirring of a bear from its slumber, allows for a more natural and sustainable beginning. It invites a period of reflection, introspection, and intentional planning, fostering a gradual progression into the unfolding chapters of the year. This deliberate approach acknowledges the rhythm of life, recognising that growth and change, much like the seasons, unfold most harmoniously when given the time and space to do so.
Allow yourself the grace to move at a pace that feels right for you, to linger in the quiet spaces of reflection, and to honor the natural ebb and flow of your journey. There's no need for guilt in choosing this path; it's a conscious decision to navigate the year with intention, tending to the needs of your well-being.
“Day’s sweetest moments are at dawn;
Refreshed by his long sleep, the Light
Kisses the languid lips of Night,
Ere she can rise and hasten on …”
An Invitation
Sunrise Scripts is more than just my journey; it's an open invitation for you to share yours. Picture it as a shared sunrise, where we gather, connect, and find comfort in the simple magic of the early light. Your presence in these moments is truly special. Let's embrace 2024 as a year of personal growth, shared development, and exciting adventures. Subscribe if you'd like to explore sunrise musings together, share the sunrise magic with friends, and let's craft a narrative filled with positivity and discovery.
So, whether you're sipping on your morning cup of Earl Grey, cosied up in your favorite blanket, embracing an ice-cold dip, or simply greeting the day with arms wide open, I invite you to join me each week. Come along as we uncover the wonder that graces the sky at sunrise, and the script of a new day delicately unfolds. Welcome to Sunrise Scripts — where every sunrise murmurs its own story — and welcome to 2024, a year of flow, a year of connection, a year of courage.
Happy New Year, ‘till next time. Ol