One of my favorite people in the world is Sandy — she’s in her 80s, though you’d never guess it. She’s vibrant, easy to talk to, and always ready for adventures. Her energy is forever young.
Sandy lives on one of those dreamy Michigan lakes, the kind where the sun rises over a forested horizon. Whenever I visit, we have a standing date at dawn to watch the sunrise together. Minute by minute, we marvel at Mother Nature’s show — two total geeks in awe of the sky and that giant ball of fire.
On my last visit, Sandy shared a short but powerful story I hadn’t heard before — one connected to her late husband, Jim, and the very sunrise we were watching side by side.
Sandy lost her husband to cancer about 15 years ago.
“Jim and I used to do this together, before he passed,” she started.
“The day after he died, I came out here and saw the most beautiful sunrise, just like this one. It felt like he was telling me to keep going — not to dwell on things. Of course I grieved the loss… deeply. But that very day, I decided I never wanted to have a bad day.
As long as the sun rises and I get to see it, it’s going to be a good day.
And you know what, Kit?
I haven’t had a bad day since!”
She meant what she said — with joy in her voice and sparks in her eyes. I thanked her for sharing the story — a story that felt more like a message from something greater.
“Oh, look at how it’s peeking out of the clouds now!” Sandy moved on before I was ready.
I wanted to linger in that haze of awe… but I didn’t want to miss the sunrise, so I snapped back to reality to snap several photos of the ball of fire breaking through the clouds, giving us quite a show.
Each minute, the scene shifted — golden light moving across the water, sky softening, brightening, deepening. No matter what else was happening in our lives — hers or mine — we decided to focus on what was right in front of us.
We were definitely having a good day.
I hope I remember that message forever.
I hope you remember that, too.
That each day the sun rises, we get to choose: it will be a good day.
And if we’re lucky enough to witness the sunrise?
That’s an extra special day!
May we remember to savor each day the way Sandy does.
With love and gratitude,
xoxo,
Kit
P.S. My friends and I are offering another Acupuncture-Meditation-Sound Bath session in September. Tickets are available now via this link.
P.P.S. Holistic Acupuncture sessions to help you slow down, reset your nervous system, experience less pain and more peace can be booked here.