I woke early. So early. My Traveling Partner was awake and trying to go back to sleep. I dressed and slipped out into the early morning darkness, headed for a favorite trail, barely awake.

[No AI is used in writing or editing this blog. This is human content for human readers.]

As I pulled out of the neighborhood, it occurred to me that I maybe wasn’t quite awake enough to drive or to be out in the world. 03:30 is too early for most places to be open. I stop by the gas station, fill up, and get a cup of coffee.

… Quite possibly the worst cup of coffee I’ve ever had (and I’ve had military coffee). We’re talking about a cup of coffee so bad it was the taste that woke me up, not the caffeine. 😆 I’m not even complaining, mostly just laughing. I’m awake, and wasn’t that the point? I force myself to drink it before I start down the trail.

It is another gray rainy looking morning. A Wednesday. Nothing remarkable about any of that. It is the beginning of an ordinary day. I’ll work from home. I am expecting a package. I yawn and briefly wonder what else the day holds? I’m not sure I care, beyond my package and my paintings. I’m eager to be in the studio again. I feel inspired by recent hikes on lovely trails.

The sky brightens as the sun rises, unseen behind the dense clouds. I chuckle to myself; I’ve been sitting here awhile. I’m fine with that – it’s my time, to use as I wish. I watch the clouds changing shape, pushed by air currents I neither feel nor see. I watch them change colors as the sun rises. Bits of blue sky peak through here and there. Another yawn. I haven’t yet fully shaken off sleepiness in favor of a new day.

I breathe, exhale, and relax. I meditate and consider the day ahead. I add items to the grocery list that were overlooked yesterday. I take a deep breath of the mild summer air. I brush off the chronic, persistent feeling of having forgotten something. I nearly always feel that way, but it rarely reflects the truth. Baggage.

I start thinking about a better cup of coffee, and beginning again… The day awaits! The clock is (always) ticking.