Peace in the Silent Sunrise. Death Valley National Park.

It was 4:30 am when I woke up to the cool temperatures of Death Valley. I snuggled as deep as I could into my sleeping bag and hoped for the desert sun to soon reappear and warm my tiny backpackers tent. It is hard to believe that the hottest and dryest place in the United States could become so frigid at night. As I countined to toss and turn, my friend was already awake and ready to begin the day. We decided since it was so early, we could drive out to the Mesquite Sand Dunes and catch the sunrise. Within 30 minutes, we had packed all of our gear and recieved confused looks from other campers. "Yes, we know it is too early, but there is no time to sleep in a place like this." For those who do not know, Death Valley is about the size of Connecticut. This makes traveling to any of the attractions quite a drive. The speed limit in most parts of the park is 65 mph, and sometimes that doesn't even feel fast enough when the roads seem to span for eternity. It would take about 45 minutes to even get to our destination. We headed out in our little rental car with the moonlight lighting the road in an eerie glow. Silhouettes of towering mountains surrounded our car, but the miles of invisible desert separated us from them. Such an odd feeling, to be surrounded by nothingness for miles. The road and the moon were the only things we could see. As we drove, my friend, Sierra, made us breakfast in the passenger seat, peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast (and lunch.... and dinner). We planned to eat them on the tallest sand dune and watch as another day on earth began. When we finally arrived, the moon was still as bright as a lantern in the sky. The sand beamed back and glowed white. It was still pitch black everywhere around us, but the day was already beginning in the sand dunes.

As we battled to walk through the thick sand, the world around us was beginning to awaken. The clouds reflected pink and yellow, making the sky as edible as sherbert. The mountains around us gleamed purple. I know now why they are called purple majesties. No picture or words could ever capture the colors we saw.

As time ticked on, the sun was beginning to burn over the mountains. We quickened our pace in order to make it up the largest sand dune in the valley. Walking in the sand was not an easy feat, which made it a killer leg workout! Sand poured into our hiking boots weighing us down even more. We breathed heavily as we climbed up the dune. Five photographers were already at the top snapping away at the arriving sunrise. We sat beside them on the dune, 7 strangers all within 10 feet of each other not saying a word. It was like everyone knew the desire for silence. The cameras quietly clicked around us as fire arose over the mountain. The suns rays began to hit our faces, it was so quiet, the sun even seemed to have a sound. It beamed across the desert and made our faces glow with brilliance and warmed our cheeks making us forget how cold the desert was in the shade. We watched the sun inch higher and higher, but time seemed to move so slow in this moment. I closed my eyes and absorbed the sun's warmth on my face. I thought about how lucky I was to have eyes that let me see such beauty like this moment. I thought about all the strangers around me and how we were all sharing such a beautiful peace that I would remember forever, but we didn't even know each others names. I thought about how some people will never know the beauty I saw that morning. I thought and thought, but then quietness. There were no thoughts running through my head anymore. Just soft cameras clicking, the sun sizzling the sand, and warmth glowing on my skin. This is peace. This is our world. This is true beauty.

"Beautiful things don't ask for attention." It is true. If the sunrise and other moments wanted attention, they would happen when the world was awake and watching. Beautiful moments do not have to be grand and obnoxious, they can be as small and quiet. Beauty truly is how we want to perceive the world around us. We can make our world as ugly and miserable as we want, or you can make it a true work of art. How many sunrises have you seen in your life? You have probably seen many on your way to work in the morning, but do you truly appreciate all of the burning colors, or are you upset with the guy who cut you off in traffic? Every sunrise has the same colors and the same sound as the one I saw that morning, but why do we not appreciate other ones? I am even guilty. I believe that beauty is happening around us constantly, but we have been so accustomed to a routine or negativity, that we no longer see it. Look around you today and appreciate the life that is happening. You do not live in a horrible world... you live in a colorful home that will never ask you to pay attention to it. It doesn't need too. It will continue to be beautiful and radiant whether you are watching or not. Today, I challenge you to find at least 3 moments in your day that you think are beautiful. Whether it is the smile of a child or a curious hummingbird hovering beside you. Even if it is a bad day, I want you to try and think of a moment that made you smile. Write them down, share them with a friend, or keep it simply to yourself. Beauty is all around us, but we all need to train our eyes to see it. Life is to be experienced. Journey Wisely. With Love, Kelly