There’s a moment, just before the day begins, that belongs entirely to me. No emails. No school lunches. No one asking for anything. Just me, my coffee, and a bit of stillness.

Every morning, I wake up a little early—not because I’m naturally chipper (I’m not), but because I need that quiet time to feel like a person before I’m everything to everyone else. I sip my coffee slowly, do the Wordle (my tiny daily victory), skim the news, and center myself before the chaos of the day begins.

That quiet hour isn’t luxury—it’s survival. As a solo parent, I’ve learned that the best way to care for everyone else is to start by caring for myself. And for me, that starts at sunrise.

It’s not always perfect. Some mornings I only get ten minutes. But even those ten minutes are mine. It’s the difference between feeling like I’m chasing the day or leading it.

So if you’re stretched thin, pulled in a million directions, and wondering when you’ll ever get a second to yourself—this is your sign. Make the time. Claim it like it’s sacred. Because it is.

Reflection, rest, and recharging aren’t indulgences. They’re essential. And for me, they begin with that first sip of coffee, in the quiet, before the world wakes up.