Dawn

Last night I camped and this morning I woke up with the sun at dawn. Bright, persuasive and powerful - there was no way to resist. I got up and started the day.
For some people waking up at dawn feels like the right way to do life, for others it is a struggle. I’m lead to believe that the ancient Romans where all about starting the day at dawn. At night the city was dark, no street lighting of any kind, and dangerous so things that had to get done outside the house where done with sunlight.

I get the sense though that not all Romans had an easy time getting out of bed at dawn. Check out the 16th Emperor and philosophical muser, Marcus Aurelius, trying to convince himself to get out of bed and into the day.


“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”

So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?

You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.”


This man governed Rome for 19 years and is considered one of the great leaders during a golden time in Roman history. “Is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?” Good question Marcus.