Before the World Wakes

(If you'd rather step into this moment through sight and sound, I've created a video that captures the essence of this experience. You'll find it below when you're ready.)

The world is quiet, at last.

Outside my window, the sky is still ink-black, the trees barely shadows. The world's hum—planes overhead, cars in the distance, voices carrying through the air—has yet to begin. These early morning hours belong to no one but me, and I slip into them like a secret.

This is when inspiration finds me.

Most days, you'll find me out on the trails, camera in hand, chasing the moments that are easy to miss—sunlight stretching across the forest floor, waves collapsing into themselves, a branch swaying just slightly in the wind you can't yet feel. I wander through the quiet, capturing these pieces of the world that remind me why I'm here.

Then I come home, and the second part of the work begins.

I sit with the words of those who came before us—Wayne Dyer, Maya Angelou, Louise Hay, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle—words that have weight, words that, if we let them, can shift something inside us. I shape them into affirmations, blending their wisdom with my own, creating something I hope will meet you exactly where you are.

I wait for the right moment to record. The neighborhood has to settle. The jets have to pause. I need the stillness that allows words to land how they're meant to.

This isn't just about affirmations; it's about finding a sacred space—where we can breathe, reflect, and remember who we are beneath the noise. It's about honoring life's struggles and recognizing that, if we let them, they can guide us toward something more significant.

I'm still finding my place in all of this, still discovering the shape of this path. But if you value peace, kindness, sacred spaces, the written word, and the quiet work of becoming—maybe we can find it together.

I'd love to hear from you. What words have shaped you? What helps you return to yourself when the world feels loud?

Let's connect in the comments.