Things Always Look Better in the Morning

I spent this weekend at the beach in Wilmington, NC. Just before my dad passed away, he told me he had always wanted to see the beach at the Atlantic Ocean. I knew we might not have much time to plan a trip, so I started planning it for Thanksgiving 2012, hoping he would be well enough to make the trip. Unfortunately, he passed on October 27. 2012 and never made it to the beach.  While I am very sad that I did not get to take him to the beach, I am more sad that we never talked about the things he wanted to do or see before he was sick. 

I got up early on Sunday to catch the sunrise at the ocean. I am not exactly a morning person, so I have not seen many sunrises, yet I have been up for the sunrise two weekends in a row. This one at the ocean and last weekend in the rolling hills of Central Ohio. What an inspiration to see the magic of the sun coming up. It dawned on me that that the miracle of a sunrise happens every day - whether I am at the beach, on a road trip, on a bike ride or simply at home sitting on my deck...the sun still rises just like it did on this day at the beach. I feel like I am coming out of a dark chapter and my soul is waking up.  

Each day is a work in progress and as I sit on the beach with the warmth of the sun on my face and the sand between my toes, I am reminded of something my dad said the day we received the news that there was nothing more that could be done for his cancer. I took this news very hard and while I tried to remain very strong for him through his illness, but this was too much for me and I broke down.  As I fought back the tears, he looked at me and said, "Things always look better in the morning." How does a man that just received this devastating news remain positive? That was who he was and I miss him every day!