Pilots call it the Magic Hour. Most of us call it Sunrise and Sunset. Some call it the Good Light.
Whatever you call it, when it’s visible, it never disappoints and it defines every single day of our lives. It’s the daily bookend to our existence and it can’t hurt to heed its lesson.
Rising in the morning, setting at night, without fail. We can’t always see it when the clouds blow in and mask its beauty, but that’s why, when it’s perfect, it’s special and we ought to pay attention. Because regardless it happens, it’s a constant, and can bring stability and purpose to life. If you let it.
Had a conversation with a friend the other day who was caught up in the total chaos of life. Raising a young family, work, health challenges, financial worries, exhaustion, lack of “me” time. Does it sound familiar? Author and speaker Brian Tracy writes, “Life is a continuous succession of problems. They never end. They come in like waves of the ocean, one after another. The only thing that matters is how effectively you respond when things go wrong.” Sounds about right.
Sunrise, Sunset. The Good Light. The Magic Hour. Constant. Ever try to live it? It happens, no matter what happens to you. So do the same. Bookend your own days.
What I mean is take control of what you do when you wake up, and when you go to sleep. Make those times in your life a ritual that brings light and purpose to your life. Get up before that morning light and read 10 pages of a good book, a book that educates, inspires, or motivates. Make a plan for your day. Write it down. Think of your “why” and what your ideal life might look like. Then, when the sun first hits the horizon and day breaks, look for the reinforcement of that dream. Even if you can’t see the colors that morning, you’ll see the day beginning to brighten. Light in your day, light in your life.
At sunset, stop for thirty seconds to appreciate this Magic Hour. Then, that night, appreciate a whole lot more. Read five pages of that same book that got your day going. Then think back on your day and take a few minutes for gratitude. It doesn’t take long. Appreciate the events of the day. Even if you had the worst day of your life, think of three things that happened that day for which you are grateful. It’s there, and if you focus on it, and not the other noise and chaos of that day, it can change a lot. Suddenly your mind relaxes and it’s easy to get to sleep and prepare to welcome tomorrow. Sunrise will happen no matter what, so why not be ready? Try this for awhile. Trying might just change your life.
Author Jeff Goins has got it right: “The truth is we don’t find our purpose in life by looking in the mirror. We find it by looking out the window.”
Here’s proof, when you pay attention to your purpose, opportunity presents itself and you can help other people and yourself. The other day I snapped a picture of a beautiful sunrise, that same day I stumbled upon a song that has just been released called “Good Light”. It’s by a young band, still trying to make their way, called Drew Holcumb and the Neighbors. Check out these lyrics….
Hey, there’s a good light shinin’ in you,
There’s a magic in your eyes
Hey, there’s a good light shinin’ through
I need it tonight
So here’s the cool thing. I looked up the song on You Tube. There was another video featuring the band and something about a pledge. I checked it out. It turns out Drew Holcumb and the Neighors is a completely independent band and is doing a total grass roots campaign to build support for their song and new album, “Good Light”, which will get wide release this Tuesday. If you like the song, the band wants you to go to Facebook, Twitter, send an e-mail to a friend, or tell a friend of a friend about the new song. If you do, and let them know about it at talkaboutdrew@gmail.com , the group will send you two free songs. I love the whole idea. Help the band, help yourself and help other people who might be inspired by the music. Why not give a good song a good launch? The link to the song and to the video is at the end of this blog. If you can’t click on it, copy and paste it into your browser.
You been lookin’ for rhyme and reason
The confusion is draggin’ you down
You got lost in the chaos
You got lost in the ashes and dust
What you needed was someone to trust.
Hey, there’s a good light shinin’ in you,
There’s a magic in your eyes
Hey, there’s a good light shinin’ through
I need it tonight
Hope you find your Good Light.
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
Good Light: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdEHQaihtiI
The Pledge for Good Light: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw7OoJpy5Cs