The other morning, I woke up and decided to start my day with a morning walk. I got my bathing suit on, grabbed a towel, and drove to the beach to catch the sunrise. I didn’t even stop for coffee! It’s been a while since I’ve done this, and honestly, the sun coming up at 6:55 is hardly the crack of dawn. By the time I made it to the beach, the draw bridge was making its ascent, which delayed me even more. When my feet finally hit the sand, the sun was already making its way up over the Atlantic Ocean.

Arriving late really didn’t matter. It was a cloudy morning, so I don’t think I missed the most spectacular display, but even still, the sight was beautiful. I began my walk to the north end of the beach. When you’re on Wrightsville Beach and looking at the ocean, you’re essentially looking east. As you walk along the shore towards the north end of the island, you’re essentially heading north-easterly. It took a moment to get the irritating but apparently catchy commercial, K.A.R.S cars for Kids, out of my head. I tried to deliberately focus on something more meaningful. As I looked at the sun, it appeared to look more like a bright moon, but no doubt, it was the sun. The colors weren’t as brilliant as other sunrises I have witnessed, but it still was the dawning of a new day, of which we all should be thankful for.

My walk and my thoughts continued as my feet submerged in water that felt like a warm bath. The crashing waves made soft, foamy bubbles, and the sound was welcoming to my ears. I typically would listen to a spiritual message, podcast, or music, but since I ran out of the house as quickly as I could, I was less prepared, which wasn’t a bad thing. The sounds of the waves really can be more inspirational than anything I could possibly consume through my earbuds on Spotify.

As I approached the north-end I began to look over my left shoulder and noticed how the reflection of the sun made a far prettier display of colors in the north-westerly sky. That got me thinking.

If I only kept my eyes on the rising sun and failed to turn around, I would have missed the emitting radiance of the sun’s drama. Beauty isn’t always right in front of you. It may be behind or on the other side of you. It’s kind of like looking at a person. We often look at someone, head-on, seeing what we want to see. Sometimes it is packaged through a lens of judgment. Maybe a word or action landed the wrong way and ‘tainted our view’ or opinion. How unfair it is to not consider the other side of the person? We might eliminate accomplishments for a moment of annoyance, potentially missing what they may create or become based on our perceived reaction to a particular moment in time. (Wow, I know- where my mind goes when just looking at the sun!)

What I’m trying to say is the sunrise isn't always spectacular, but the complimentary view, if you only turn around, might be a great-big-beautiful surprise. Perhaps applying that same principle to life will cause us to be more understanding of people and allow them the opportunity to display their true colors. Maybe avoid the formation of negative thoughts and consider the accomplishments of one's past and the golden days to come. It just might be a better way to look at life.