For most of my teenage years, I really tried to be a night-owl. Teenagers are supposed to stay up until 2am watching Friends and YouTube videos and chat with friends on Facebook, right? I did that two nights a week (because I’ve always been a goody-two-shoes and couldn’t justify staying up past 10:30 on a school night) for four years (6 nights in the summers; I had to get up early for church on Sunday) and really, really tried to like it. But I just never did. It didn’t feel natural and I hated missing out on the morning routine.

I even tried it a few nights a week in college before I just decided to embrace the fact that I’m a morning person. Don’t bother trying to keep me up late, because no matter what, I will be in bed by 10. And don’t “force” me to sleep in because I’ll be up at 7:30. Just the way I like it.

I don’t know how mornings got such a bad rap. They’re so magical and so many people just sleep right through them. It’s so peaceful. And beautiful.

Because I’m crazy and actually like spending time with my family, I’ve been driving two hours back down to school every Monday morning at 7 this semester. And because I’m a morning person, I actually like it.

I love watching the world wake up. Most of my drive is spent on “country roads,” which add to the serenity and peacefulness I love about mornings.

This picture was taken this past Monday morning. I think it’s the most stunning sunrise I’ve witnessed this year. And that would include about 10 Hawaiian sunrises. So that’s saying something.

I am honestly so proud of myself for finally giving up the night-owl thing just to fit in and realizing that mornings are where I’m supposed to be. It’s my favorite time of the day. I literally go to bed every night excited about waking up the next morning.

It’s been a refreshing change for me.