How does your day begin?
I took this photo of the sun rising behind the old factories on the other side of Stirling station yesterday, and it got me thinking about the start of the day. Every day the sun comes up (but we don’t always notice it). In some cultures and traditions this simple, daily event was/is marked with some kind of ritual or acknowledgment – some “salute to the sun”, or some contemplation or prayer. I guess it’s no surprise in a country like Scotland where its not likely you can actually see the sun every morning that we don’t have that kind of start to our day.
But how DO you start your day?
Do you start on auto-pilot? Some combination of washed/dressed/breakfast/out the door? If so, is there a point where you take over from the auto-pilot? At what point in the day do start to live more consciously?
Or do you start your day with some personal ritual of waking or beginning? Feel free to share if you’d like.
Heroes Not Zombies 
My morning ritual has changed recently …….We have a kitten –Patrick the cat with a bottomless pit to fill. He greets me with enthusiasm as he knows I have the key to his desire (the cat food). Its great to see his salute to the sun……each limb stretched , his back moving in the instinctive ‘cat and camel’ movements. So he is teaching me to be more conscious . When I can cycle to work — I really enjoy the first uphill stretch as it really clears the lungs and then the whizz down hill through the woods is a delight. The woodland path first thing at 7.30 is often the highlight of the day —the speed, the cold air at this time and sometimes a deer startled.
Driving never feels like this but when I remember to listen to Terry Wogan his familiar jovial tones and earthy realism (that seem to have been around for ever) remind me of so many past times and make me more conscious…..
Bob, I first became aware of your blogs when Mary (McClurg) who works beside you in the hospital showed me some of your pictures. Since then I have read all of the articles and have thoroughly enjoyed them (and all of your associated photographs)
From what I know of the holistic nature of homeopathy from Mary there is much that we all can learn from this as a discipline and I have to admit that it makes me view medicine in a much more favourable light – the only alarm bells that ring for me are around the economics of homeopathic treatment as perceived by the accountants and senior management in the NHS – and it would be interesting to hear their views?
Inspired by your writings I have created my blog now (mittecltd) and it is embryonic, however any views on the topics welcome.
Thanks Bob and I look forward to reading your next post and perhaps bumping into you to say hello in person next time I am dropping off or picking up Mary.
ps as to how I start my day, well coffee and radio 5 are a must to catch up on the overnight madness, followed my much tutting and head shaking as appropriate!!
Coffee, reading, mandolin, shower.
Dr. B
My day begins with tea in bed, a book and a journal. Though recently my journal is my new laptop. Some years ago I read Julia Cameron’s wonderful book, The Artist’s Way in which she talks about the importance of Morning Pages. I’ve recently started doing that again. It helps me clear the sleep from my head, plan my day and focus my attention on who I am and what I’m about…