Sunsets

August 2023 

My wife and I recently bought a house on a hill overlooking a lake. It faces essentially west. I am also very near the east side of Lake Michigan. It’s the end of summer so I have spent a fair amount of time enjoying sunsets. Likely because they come earlier now.  I’m old and don’t stay up very late!

Lake Michigan is a sunset factory in the summer and fall. Really all year long.  But autumn elongates the experience.  Recently, enjoying the last spark of the day has given me time to ponder many things. Including why sunsets are so beautiful and enjoyable. Maybe even critical to the human psyche. At least mine.

First and foremost, Sunsets are amazing. No matter where you are. Many are Facebook and Instagram fodder for certain. But the pictures rarely convey the true beauty of being there, watching it evolve as the sun says farewell to the day.  I often wonder if the people that take all those post-able pictures also took the time to truly appreciate the event. To stop and enjoy it in the moment. Of course, I am equally guilty. My phone is full of sunset shots. 

Yes, they awe and inspire us. Yet most of us only make time for this special experience when we are on vacation, in some exotic tropical locale.  And we love it!  It gives us a very special feeling and can embed a memory into our mind for a lifetime.  But we often fail to remember this fact; the sun sets every single day, no matter where you are.

So, there is no reason you cannot take a few minutes to stop and enjoy one. Even in the city.  Even without water as a foreground.  Even on cloudy days. They can be quite spectacular, each in their own way, regardless of circumstance. 

Reminding myself of this fact, I have worked very hard for the last 4 or 5 sunsets to just watch. To feel the power of the moment. By the third day it was no longer work. Almost instinctively I was relaxed, calm and set free just to enjoy nature’s tapestry.  The divine brushstrokes of inspiration that our planet provides us with. After the sun slipped below the horizon, I took some time to note how I felt. 

First and foremost, I really felt in a much better mood! Confirming the research that indicates sunsets can have “positive psychological effects, enhancing the satisfaction of life and generally relieve stress”.  In my mind, nature in general is a natural fuel for the soul, and the beauty of the moment made me feel refreshed and centered.

I was also surprisingly inspired. Watching the sun play games with light, creating almost mystical colors was quite spiritual.  It seemed rather obvious to me why sunsets have been an inspiration for philosophers, artists, poets, and writers for centuries. The experience was in some ways healing.  My attention to the painting being created right in front of my eyes was captivating. I was truly lost in that moment. Almost meditating, barely breathing, as time seemed to stand still.

As it concluded, long after the sun had dipped well below the horizon and darkness had yet to fully fall, I felt almost totally at peace.  My mind was so clear.  I felt creative and restored.  Ready to paint a portrait of my own.  Ok, wishing I had the talent to truly paint.  But I certainly had the vision of what I wished I could put on my own canvas.  I went with words on a page instead!

Finally, and most of all, I felt grateful.  Grateful for the universe we are a tiny fraction of. For the sun and the amazing solar system we inhabit.  I was totally caught up in the natural beauty of our Earth and the realization of how important it is for us to take care of her, as she takes care of us. How robust she seems yet how fragile she really is.

I pondered how sunsets are a reminder of how beautiful life can be, when you just take a moment to let yourself see it. The true marvel being that you will never experience the same sunset twice, as each and every one is incredibly special in its own unique way. Yet it is always beautiful and inspiring.  I recommend the experience!

Because for a just a moment, you are free of obligations, free to enjoy the calming, beautiful, and life-changing flashes of the conclusion of another day on the only planet we will ever call our own. That you are alive, and that this world, our home, is full of wonders. OK, on second thought, if it makes you happy to take a picture and share it you should do just that. Maybe you’ll brighten someone else’s day too. Or inspire them to seek out their own sunset experience. It’s always worth it!