The earth turns toward the sun, the wake-up alarm rings; the cats begin to mill about the bed, waiting for their food; traffic begins to burn its way toward places of employ; a day begins.

The first moments of one’s day are the moments before the universe was created: all of life is waiting to be defined. In sixty seconds, or one hundred seconds, you are with the Creator, and invite the day to become what it will be.

To arrive at the right tone of sunlight and the best interpretation of the day, we must understand the word practice — be sure that the word does not connote chore, on a par with cleaning the bathroom or taking out garbage; and do your best to avoid nuances of trial, where your performance will be judged to measure worthiness. It is simply practice, moving gently, daily, in the direction of greater skill.

The skill of the morning is to wake as if called by a soft bell, or the stroke of a lover, or the flavor of a fresh fruit, or the possibility of peace.

In the first moment after waking has arrived, the practice is to remain still. We race into the current of the day. The image that just came to my mind was of a lemming that — is this really true? — throws itself into the sea to be drowned with a million of its fellow lemmings. Do not drown in your day before it has even begun! Close your eyes, if they have opened. Breath deeply and gently. Nothing is happening: you are safe and in your bed. Nothing is happening. Rest a moment longer.

Then express gratitude for being alive. You are alive! You are still alive! You are alive, again! If you practice expressing your gratitude, gratitude will come.

Then take a moment to acknowledge the voices that come running in, all the tasks waiting for you, all the demands, all the concerns, perhaps even a desire or a joy. Acknowledge them all without acting, allow them to be part of the day’s sounds, like birds on the wire, nod and smile to them, and let them fade into the background.

Finally, create the day. It is your day. And while you may not have complete control over the events which will come your way, you have the power to invite positive results, and the power to remember to do something good for yourself among the challenges you may face; you have the power to remember friends and diminish your isolation; you have the power to add something healing to your schedule. You have the power to decide: during the day today, I will stop twice to remember how good it is to be alive.

Is that contrived? Beautiful contrivance. Either we choose how we enter our world, or the world chooses for us. And the world, while it cares immensely for the Whole, has not so much concern for the individual. How you walk your day, my friends, belongs to you.

Practice!

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