I Love My Sunrises

Sunrises...The Dawn of a Brand New Day

Ever since I could remember I have loved watching the sun rise.  Maybe it's that I have spent the majority of my life on the east coast and always near the ocean but I have always been drawn to the shore in those pre-dawn moments.  I don't always make time for it but when I do it affects me in a way I can't explain.  The feeling is almost indescribable but it is always the same.  As I head down to the beach in the dark of the morning an excitement comes over me.  I have to mentally tell myself to slow down, I'll get there, take your time Bill.  Approaching the bridge to cross the river I'm already excited to take in the awe-inspiring horizon complete with the beautiful hues of gold and amber just beginning to light the day.  It's the race to get to the beach and I don't know why, I'm always early.  Once I get there I can't wait to hit the sand. Looking for the perfect picture, listening to the surf crash and the birds sing. I have to force myself to slow down and take it all in. It's tough. I run head first towards things, high energy, loud, excited, ask anyone that knows me. But to just take those few minutes and enjoy the natural beauty that is the morning, is very fulfilling. Mornings like this morning make me want to stay and enjoy the whole day there but on this occasion I returned home to share it with the world.

If you have never taken the time, are not a normally early riser or just haven't made the time lately, I encourage you to set your alarm just a little earlier and make your way to someplace where you can bask in the beauty as you too watch the dawn of a brand new day.

Until next time...

Hard Work Never Hurt Anyone

It's funny, the other day I had a friend ask me "How's it going?" I replied "Working hard."  This kind of stuck with me.  I am 46 and believe I am working harder now than any other time of my life.  Sometimes physically, sometimes mentally but definitely more now than ever.  Because of that I am more focused than any time in my life also.  Goals are not just numbers they are literally my future.  I have never been afraid of work but I always seemed to either have a physical job (installing flooring) or a mental job (managing companies and people) but never like now when I am doing every bit of both.  Any given day can find me installing in the morning, selling in the afternoon, measuring in the evening and helping move or deliver something before I get home.  Not a rant, not complaining, definitely not bragging and nothing new for anyone who has known me for any length of time.  I was taught that you suck it up and do what has to get done.  Be the person that others can count on to get the job done and always live up to your word when you say you can do it.  Sometimes we do things by choice and other times we do them out of necessity.  Life is funny, it can be a little like the game Shoots and Ladders.  One day you're going along rolling your dice climbing your way up and bang the next thing you know you are sliding backwards and starting back over.  In a odd sort of way I appreciate the humbling changes life handed me.  It reinforced in me what is important and what are just material things.  It reminded me what is worth working for.  It is so true when they say the little things in life are not just things and they're damn sure not little.  When you  watch all the material things you had worked for slowly dissolve and find yourself rebuilding you look around and find the people beside you that deserve your hard work and you work harder for it.  Yes, work is hard but it also can be rewarding and the reward is what makes all the work that much sweeter. I say give me the opportunities and I will run.  Work me into the ground so that I can better enjoy the weekends at the beach or walking in the woods.  Let me live to be an example to my children so that they too can understand the power of hard work and what it means to succeed. In the end it's like the Jason Aldean song "It's the only way I know" and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Until next time.....