A New Day

Sunday morning was a day of reckoning. I discovered that day that my life has suffered from at least one major flaw in character. I have incessantly taken things or people for granted. The thousands of sunrises and equal number of sunsets witnessed never truly inspired the awe held by most. I uttered the customary phrases, but never with heart felt sincerity.

But Sunday was different. As I drove to work, the sun yawned, stretched and began its ascent into the morning sky. The brilliant fiery orb appeared in my rearview mirror, blinding me, as it slowly made its way past the horizon. The fluffy cotton ball clouds took on an orangish tinge and seemed to part as a stage curtain might as Act 1 got under way. At the sight of this new dawn, it suddenly dawned on me that I finally understood the beauty of it all.

As I drove on, I actually felt an unexplained excitement when I observed a tree , it’s leaves having turned a bright autumnal hue. Further along the route, a diminutive artificial lake partially obscured by trees. A picturesque setting where one could sit, absent of any thought and be content. Newly planted mums highlighting the corporate structures along the ribbon of highway. My mind turned to an image of a single rose and the importance of life’s purpose.

My thoughts then turned to those friends and loved ones of the past who I soured by my flaw. I can’t erase my mistakes; I can only offer an apology, both genuine and sincere.

I eagerly await the approaching holiday season. Although it will be celebrated in solitude, I will savor the customs of the past with much more sensitivity. Whatever the fare for Thanksgiving, I will be grateful for the new experiences. The warmth of the oven and the delicious aroma of the strawberry bread at Christmas will bring me cheer. I’ll still delight in my eggnog on New Year’s Eve with a new jubilation, but won’t discover the splendor of a New Year unfolding until the morn.

The Truth Is: Just like Sunday.