I don’t jump out of bed at 4:00 am. It’s more like I roll out of bed.

But once I start running and I look up at the night sky and the stars, then the first outline of the Sandia Mountains as the sun starts to reside behind them, I’m reminded how much I love being up in those early hours.

I used to say that the early morning felt so hopeful because it was like someone had washed off the chalkboard of the day before and we have a chance to start new. When I finish my run and do a variety of things around the house (watering outside, cleaning up dog poop, checking on the pool, emptying the dishwasher, feeding the dogs), I think about how much it’s my favorite time of the day.

The morning light begins to change my perspective of any worry I might have woken up with or that’s residual from the day before. Seeing the coming light gives me hope that new things could happen today, that there’s new opportunity ahead, that I have all the time in the world.

Everyone laughs that I’m asleep before 9:00 pm most nights. I laugh that I struggle to get out of bed that early.

But the most hope I feel is during those early morning hours and I believe we should grab all the hope we can, especially that which keeps us inspired and gives us the energy to face challenges (and opportunities!) ahead.