Darkness and Light

When I arrived at the gym it was cold and dark.  The parking lot was blanketed by the gloomy silence of the early, predawn morning. The exact time was impossible to estimate even if I cared to know.  A few scattered light posts illuminated random areas of the parking lot with a dim yellow glow.  Aside from the methodical activity of a truck driver across the parking lot preparing for an early start, everything was silent and sleepy. As I looked over at my gym bag in the passenger seat the drudgery of my morning routine weighed heavily on my mind.  Nonetheless, I dragged myself into the building to run a few miles on the treadmill.

Now, an hour later, I having finished my morning ritual and I'm stepping out of the gym into the bright sunlight of a beautiful crisp morning.  While I was busy with my workout, the sun rose across the horizon and gave birth to a beautiful, bright new day.  My body is warm with the afterglow of a solid workout and a hot shower.  My cardiovascular engine continues radiating heat into the atmosphere as it slowly throttles back to a normal activity level .  The air is crisp and I have a sense that it is chilly but I don’t feel the coolness.  The familiar surroundings of the parking lot have transformed in the span of an hour.  Color and shape are all visible now in the natural light and I have an intense, endorphin induced excitement at the potential the day holds .  The sky is bright and clear.  My body attracts the sunshine like a magnet and I feel plugged in as I absorb the energy.  My step is light and nimble as I walk further into the parking lot exposing myself to even more of the sun's warm rays.  I fill my lungs with this freshness of this brand new day.  This clean, cool air is a delight after an hour in the stuffy, sweaty, atmosphere that lingers in the gym and locker room.  There is a pleasant tingle in my lungs as I exhale.  It triggers a wave of euphoria that envelops my entire soul and causes a reflexive smile that may be the only external hint of my appreciation of this moment.

I am aware that I am experiencing part runner’s high combined with a simple awe at the beauty of a this bright day. My senses are sharp and I perceive details more clearly. The sky is a vibrant blue and is tastefully accented with an occasional pure white cloud.  A light frost has formed white, geometric patterns on the red metal of my car.  I make a deliberate effort to slow down and allow myself a moment to be impressed with this easily overlooked, fleeting work of delicate art.  One more deep breath elicits another smile that I share with a passing athlete at the front end of his workout.

Pausing for one last time for a moment, I consider the contrast between my feelings now and how I felt at the front of my workout.  This will be a morning I recall when I need a reminder that after the darkness there is always a dawn.