“Sunrises bring me not only their breathtaking beauty but also serve as gentle reminders of new beginnings and fresh starts. In these challenging times, filled with an overwhelming amount of bad news, I find myself seeking comfort in the cherished memories of those beautiful February beach days.” – Ed Lehming

I’ve been away from my blog for far too long. It was my son who reminded me of the personal value of journaling my journey through life through my photos. It’s strange, and this happened during COVID as well, that at times when it is probably more important than ever to spend some time in introspection, that is the same time when I drift away from my practice.

During a recent conversation, he asked me if I was planning on taking up blogging again, and I knew right away that the answer was, “Yes.” After all, over the past several months, I have not been idle and have many new images that have brought me a lot of joy—photos of travel, family, friends, events, and the world I live in—so why not start this endeavor once more? So here we are. Like the photo that I chose, a new start, a blank canvas, informed by the past but looking forward.

The image I chose was made a mere few weeks ago on the beach of our resort in Cancun, Mexico. I made a point of getting up with the sun every day and simply sitting with the day as it revealed itself to me. Every morning was just a bit different, and even when clouds covered the eastern horizon, the sun seemed to send a few welcoming rays into the sky anyway.

There is also a rhythm to these mornings. Just before the sun breaks on the horizon, there is a fairly long period of soft dawn light and a handful of fellow dawn welcomers. All is quiet except for the constant swooshing of waves on the shore. As the sun peeks over the horizon, the sky begins to fill with life; pelicans and gulls start to circle overhead, seeking their morning meal, and the day begins anew for all of us. And I just sat in quiet meditation, taking in the sights, the sounds, and the feel of the sun on my skin; bliss. No thought of anything except what was before my eyes, in the moment.

It’s that very moment that I want to carry with me to help me endure the world in its current state. I have printed this photo, and it sits on my desk as I write this. Through my work week, I look at it and recall a snippet of that moment and remind myself that this serenity is possible even in a chaotic world; I just need to recall it to sustain myself.

So, here we go. I’ll be going over many such moments, experienced in the recent past, considering the photos I have made of these “moments,” and realizing just how blessed I truly am to have experienced them along the way. And, hopefully, the inspiration to keep writing stays with me for more than a few days.

iPhone 17 Pro Max
Main Camera — 24 mm
1/1582 sec, ƒ/1.8, ISO 100