Sunset isn’t the end, but the beginning
Jul 30th, 2008 by spaceagesage
I love this kind of Colorado sunset. Fortunately, it’s not a rare event where I live. (This photo is taken from my front yard.) The fire in the sky comes at dusk quite often. Lovely shades of red, orange, pink play across the heavens to bid the sun goodbye and the night hello.
I have seen sunsets over the ocean, the mountains, and the wheat fields of the heartland. Why do I like sunsets?
- Is it the comforting notion that the day is winding down?
- Does such beauty at the end of a tough day act as affirmation of a better tomorrow?
- In that moment, which often draws me outdoors, am I connecting with nature anew?
- Does knowing it will rise the next day provide me with comfort or context?
- Are childhood memories of “You can play until it gets dark” still warming my soul?
I’m not sure which reason fits best, perhaps they all do, but I do know a few things about the coming and going of days:
Let the sun set when it sets
We often want to hang onto old ideas, immature perceptions, or limiting thoughts that keep us living in the ruts formed long ago. When moving forward, allow the sun to set on those things.
Hold on to your colors
“The night is darkest before the dawn,” according to the old adage about persevering through tough times. If we expand this analogy, then remembering the sunset’s colors — in other words holding the vibrancy of our dreams, goals, and ideas close to our hearts — can help us through the dark times as well.
The sun will indeed rise tomorrow!
No matter how tough today was, everything hits reset with a new day. Let the dawn refresh you by leaving behind the mistakes, social blunders, or guilt about undone projects in the yesterday where they belong.
What do you have trouble “putting to bed,” or “closing the book on,” or “letting the sun set on” that holds you back? What helps you let these things go?
——-
Hi Lori, or do you prefer SpaceAgeSage?
Thank you so much for finding me, so I could find you. I just finished reading this post and it is beautiful. I love how you used sunsets as a springboard to the rest of the post.
I’m a big one on letting the sun set on what’s past. My favorite saying is “let it go”. It drives some of the friends and family nuts (as they want to carry on about “it”), but my feeling is, it’s over. No changing the facts. ( So as not to get me wrong, I apply this to mundane things – not tragic life events).
Again, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I truly appreciate it.
P.S. I’m subscribed 🙂
“Fortunately, it’s not a rare event where I live.”
Well, either we don’t get very many good looking sunsets (cuz this one is hard to live up to) or I’m just not paying attention. Truth be told, I can’t recall when I last looked at a great looking sunset. I mean, I pay attention, I appreciate and admire the things around me, but that sure is one good looking sunset.
Re: your closing question(s)… I used to have trouble letting things go. But opening up and sharing things helps you move on. It really does…
What I do sometimes (and should do more often) is to lie in bed and re-live the day. How did it begin? How did it go on? What was important? Which were the nice things? How did I solve the problems? Which problems did I solve? Was it a good day or a bad day? usually my feeling after answering all these questions is, that every day has its positive experiences. And after having done this usually I’ve no problem getting to sleep…
Ulla
@Barbara–
For some private reasons, I initially wrote only as SpaceAgeSage, but I just put my name out there and pictures on my About page, so use whichever name is easier.
You are brave to keep to your convictions about “letting go” when others want to keep digging at a subject. It’s hard, but oh so much more healthy.
Thanks for commenting and for your kind words on my writing. Wow, and a subscriber, too? Awesome!
@Ricardo–
Experience has graphically demonstrated to me that bottling up and burying everything has too high a price to pay. I hope you are blessed with good friends and folks around you to share with. My husband and I act that way for one another.
@Ulla–
I’m glad the balance of the day leaves you able to sleep, especially since so many people stress themselves out and can’t sleep well.
I used to worry about the smallest mistakes (OK, still do a little) and discount my successes or any positives. Now I know the balance of life is in my favor, so the bumps (to mix my metaphors) don’t matter so much.
I like what you said about “the sun will indeed rise tomorrow”. It reminds me of one of my favorite mantas my mom often tells me “this too shall pass”. There is nothing quite like a quiet still morning with a cool breeze, some refreshing sunlight, and a cup of fresh coffee.
Stacey–
And thankfully, most of the time, “this too shall pass” proves to be true. Ditto on the quiet morning. An early walk as the sun rises is a nice way to start the day, too.
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation!
I enjoyed reading your post so much that I will come back tonight, when the day is waning, so that I can truly absorb it. I leave nothing behind. I put everything in my sack and lug it around on my shoulders. I do not sleep. I do not rest. I do not have calmness in me. I will die like I’ve lived; in a hurry to go nowhere.
As my mother said during the good times: This too shall pass.
Dana —
Poetic words, my friend!
May your day grab you by the hand and give you what you want of peace, power, and passion.
Gorgeous photo!
When I feel bad at the end of the day, I enter my kids’ room and watch them for a few minutes. They look so peaceful when they’re asleep. It melts my heart to look at them and I can’t wait for the morning, when I’ll be able to hug them and give them a good morning kiss.
Vered,
Thanks!
Glad your kids have such love to embrace them every day.
I’ve have no kids, but our cats sure can melt my heart with their warm, fuzzy, purry ways.
What a stunning photo! My best sunset experiences occur on our boat. It brings all the elements into play: fire, wind, water, air. As for hanging onto things, I generally don’t First of all, it takes way too much effort! People who cling to past resentments always seem to be so tired. Second, I do not regret any experience in my life, good or bad, because all have helped make me who I am. And I like me!!! On the days when some event really has taken hold and won’t let go–they do happen–I simply go to bed and go to sleep. It’s like short circuiting my thought processes. I always wake up refreshed and ready to carry on.
Urban Panther,
I like your elements angle about sunsets!
I agree resentments tire, but self approval turns us into rocket ships. I also value what I’ve been through in my life, good or bad, because these gray hairs of mine signify a lot was learned along the way.
Thanks for taking the time to visit and comment!
I love this photo. Right this moment I just want to look at it and breathe. I guess I have trouble letting go of times when I have made a mistake. But you can’t go back and fix things right? I’ll have to work on that one for a while I’m afraid 🙂
Davina,
There are certain personality types like mine that are wired to beating ourselves up about mistakes. I have to re-wire myself (still) every now and again to see mistakes and failures as nothing more than an action taken that actually has value because it shows me where I don’t want to go. If I tie emotions to the action by listening to those authoritarian voices of the past or by recalling the embarrassing moments others rubbed in my face, then I have more trouble using the mistakes as learning times.