I like to walk early in the morning, before the sun comes up, when most of the world is still asleep. In Ventura it can either be clear and noisy with birdsong or foggy and still as an old British movie. I like both kinds of mornings. Hardly a window is lit and the only people I ever see are the early runners or the early dog walkers, both of which are rare. I always wonder if these are “working people” or just early risers like myself.
When I was working I HAD to get up and walk early so I could get to work on time. Now, as I am retired, I just enjoy the solitude. It is my time to connect with the world — to ground myself and communicate with the holiness of the universe.
Mornings are our chances to start over. To right the wrongs we did yesterday, to fulfill the pledges we made to ourselves the night before and to start or continue our dreams. It is a time for all of us to begin again, to maybe get it “right” this time…
I think the poem “On The Pulse Of The Morning,” written by Maya Angelou, describes mornings perfectly. On this morning of the day we set aside to remember and celebrate the great Martin Luther King Jr., I am remembering his dream, our dream, the world’s dream for equality and peace. I have just reread his “Dream speech” and it is still very pertinent in todays unsettled and unequal state. So this morning as I head out the door with my sweet walking companion Rosie (who will be featured in this blog a lot) I am thinking of the hopes and dreams we all have and celebrating Reverend King, Maya Angelou, and mornings.

Maya Angelou’s poem is a powerful, thought-provoking piece, and I would recommend all of you to read it in its entirety here. Following is the part about mornings I like the best:

Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.

Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes,
Into your brother’s face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.