I love to get up early to swim or bike. The mornings are so quiet. Despite the cold and near darkness, I love to get up before anyone else. It makes me feel as if I am sampling delicious food before the guests arrive and it gives me the time I need without human interaction to check in with myself. I think about what John Calvi wrote about that.
One of the things I like to do first thing in the morning, before I even open my eyes is to say to myself, “Well, John Calvi, congratulations; you have another day in your life. What’s your gut response to that?” I know that I’m at the top of my spiritual health and emotional well-being if my response to that is “Thank you.” And if my response is not “thank you”, I know I have some homework to do before I offer anybody anything. It’s a good barometer; it lets me know how I’m doing. It gives me some words to let other people know how I’m doing, whether or not they want to know.