By Kingsli Kraft

There’s always something to learn in almost every moment, and I think Mother Nature is one of our most poignant teachers.

This is my second installment in my Life Lessons from Sunrises series. If you missed the first one, you can find it here: 3 Life Lessons Learned from Chasing Sunrises in Alpena

 

  1. No two sunrises are exactly the same, and yet they’re all beautiful in their own way.

We all have insecurities, and if there’s one thing social media has certainly exacerbated, it’s our toxic tendency to compare ourselves to others. But people are like sunrises—unless you’re true identical twins, no two are the same, yet they’re all beautiful in their own way. Sunrises remind us that there is no one single definition of beauty. We don’t need to compare sunrises or elevate one over another to justify their beauty. They’re all gorgeous in their own way, and that is precisely what makes them special.

Not even a few clouds can stop the beauty of a golden Alpena sunrise

  1. It’s not just about the destination; it’s also about the journey, so enjoy it. 

A sunrise isn’t just one rigid moment. It’s almost like a living, breathing watercolor on the best days. Between the colorful mosaics unfolding on the water below and the patchwork quilt of colorful clouds above, it’s always shifting and changing. Don’t worry about capturing the perfect moment. Just relax, enjoy each moment and do your best to stay present to appreciate each one, rather than panicking about getting the perfect photo. Take a photo here and there but remember it’s less about the perfect angle and the perfect framing and the ideal lighting and it’s more about remembering how you felt in that moment. 

 

  1. Not everything is about you, celebrate those around you whenever you can. 

Recently I got stuck on the wrong side of some clouds. I was a little annoyed because I had big plans to create some gorgeous sunrise content for the morning and well, the clouds had other plans. While I was sitting there silently stewing and wishing the clouds away, I saw a few homes on the south end of the bay catch the light of the sunrise. I thought to myself that “wow! Everyone over there must have a spectacular view!” And then while I was a little jealous, it also felt like a little message from the universe. A note saying, “Hey, not everything is about you.” Not every moment is YOUR moment. Enjoy your moments when you have them, but also celebrate those around you when it’s their turn.

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