This is a cheat day post. The idea was never meant to be more than a personal journal entry, but here we are. It’s 11:09 PM, and in the spirit of keeping a perfect streak of writing and publishing, I’m calling this one in. Cheat day posts will happen from time to time, so let’s aim for 10% of the total this year. That makes this 1 out of 36. If this isn’t your thing, feel free to explore the backlog. I’ve written some good stuff lately. Now, let’s talk mornings.

I’ve always been a morning person. The kind of person who doesn’t need an alarm clock to wake up before the sun. There’s something magical about early mornings: the quiet streets, the crisp air, and the feeling that the entire day is a blank canvas. In those moments, it feels like anything is possible. There’s time to get it all done, to think clearly, and to just be before the demands of the day take over.

One of my favorite things about mornings is the solitude. It’s not loneliness; it’s a calm, intentional time to center myself. Sometimes that means sitting with a cup of coffee and letting my thoughts wander. Other times, it’s going for a walk, hearing nothing but the sound of my footsteps and the occasional bird. It’s not flashy or exciting, and that’s the point. Mornings remind me to slow down, to appreciate the start of something new.

But being a morning person comes with its quirks. For example, if I happen to sleep in, even just a little, it’s like my whole day is off balance. Sleeping past 9 AM feels like I’ve already lost the battle. It’s irrational, I know. Nobody’s grading my productivity, and there’s no universal law that says “early” is better. Still, it stings. That weird little trade-off is part of the package deal for morning lovers like me.

When you think about it, mornings are full of small gifts we often overlook. The pink-orange glow of a sunrise, the cool breeze before the heat sets in, or the quiet hum of the world waking up. It’s easy to take these things for granted, but they’re what make mornings so special.

This post is a celebration of mornings, and maybe a little bit of a love letter to them. They are the reset button, the fresh start, the promise of another day to get things right (or at least try to). Even on days that don’t feel great, mornings remind me that there’s always a chance to begin again.

Here’s to mornings, and here’s to cheat days. Let’s call this one a win.