Sacred Mornings
Simple mornings are one of life’s greatest luxuries. I like to start the day on my own terms, unhurried and undisturbed.
- No food before noon.
- Only two black coffees.
- No meetings before noon.
- No flights before 1 PM.
- No workouts either. Just a quiet walk. Not for fitness, but for thinking.
The 30-Minute Rule
Here’s the part that surprises everyone: I don’t spend my mornings at home. I’m out the door within 30 minutes of opening my eyes.
I wake up, check my phone to make sure the world—the simulation I’m in—is still running, shower, get dressed, and leave. There are exceptions, but most days, that’s my rhythm.
I like being outside early, when the air still feels fresh and the first sunlight hits my face.
Back when I lived in San Diego, that routine was perfect. I’d wake up at six, walk to my favorite café, Communal Coffee, which opened at 6:30, and usually be one of the first through the door. I’d read for an hour, write for half an hour, then walk home and make breakfast. The photo above is from one of those walks.
I like my mornings with minimal talking and minimal noise. The fewer interactions, the better. It’s the one time of day that belongs entirely to me, my thoughts, my reflections, my reading.
I never use alarm clocks. Never have. I naturally wake up early and sleep somewhere between six to seven hours. More than seven is rare. Less than six, I feel it. My ideal wake-up time is between 6 and 7am, but I’m not rigid about it. If I sleep at 2am, I’m fine sleeping until 9am. No guilt, no optimization. I sleep when I’m tired.
Most people wake to noise. I wake to silence. Just space to think before the world starts asking for things. This sets the tone for everything else.
When I protect my mornings, I protect my clarity. By noon, when the world expects me to be available, I’ve already done my best thinking. I’ve already had my time. Whatever comes next, I’m ready for it.
That’s the real luxury. Owning your mornings. Stepping into sunlight, and knowing the day hasn’t claimed you yet.