New Beginnings

I’ve found spontaneous decisions are always the best. It was New Year’s Eve and I was about to take a nap and set my alarm for 10pm so I could get up and paint as we crossed into 2025. I had already purchased a nice half bottle of sparkling rose champagne to drink as I danced on my canvas.

But it didn’t feel like that was the mood I was actually in. Lying there, about to set my alarm I hesitated. Is this really what I want to do? It initially felt like a great choice, especially after being in the restaurant business 29 years. 29 years of experiencing the loud sound of clinking glasses and yelling at midnight. Now that I had exited the industry I wanted to make New Year’s Eve more personal.

As I contemplated setting my alarm for 10pm to paint to bring in the New Year, I changed my mind. Instead I decided to call it a night (or year rather) and get up early to watch the sunrise. I’ve watched the sunrise many times but never on New Year’s Day morning. That felt unique to me. We always focus on the evening before but there’s a whole other experience the morning of.

To start the year by watching the sunrise was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve embarked on. I drove to a coffee shop nearby that I know serves 100% Kona coffee. The owners are from Hawaii and I spent four years living there. I took the extra time to drive there to set the tone for my year. I ordered a 100% Kona Red-eye. A drink which cost me over $10 with my tip and was worth every penny. The barista wanted to make sure I knew the drink would take about 7 minutes. I assured her I was happy to wait, that I intentionally wanted my first coffee of the year to be exquisite and that was why I was there.

The first sip sent a smile through my entire body. This is how I wanted my year to feel. This right here. Warm, rich, bold, and comforting all at the same time.

I drove down to the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, VA and parked my car. It was bitter cold but I didn’t care. I brought two blankets with me and my drink. I ran into a woman on my walk out to the lounge chairs located between Prince and Duke Street on the Pier. The woman wanted to know where she could get coffee and I gave her directions to another place just a stone’s throw away.

She headed back and we befriended each other. I came to find out she had moved to the US from Korea just a few months earlier. She had literally googled the day before the best place to watch the sunrise in the DC area and that spot popped up in the top 5. A spot I frequent often for both sunrise and sunset. I had no idea it was in the top five but immediately felt so grateful that it was so close for me. I was in awe of her that she sought it out.

It was a spectacular sunrise and morning. Two strangers there for the same reason sharing this immaculate moment. A handful of other people started to show up; All women I observed. The sun dazzled and morphed into different scenes before our eyes. I was there about an hour. I took about 20-30 photos and videos capturing the magic. Planes flew overhead to land at DCA. The air was crisp and created a mist on the water. The colors were miraculous. I couldn’t believe I had never started my year like this before. I’ve already painted two paintings inspired by those photos. One of the paintings sold the first week. The lady had an emotional experience with the painting.

I was in complete awe of this sunrise. Not just seeing this morning breathtaking view, but making a new friend in the process. Starting my year in such a connected way. Talking about life, finding meaning in the simple things, and exchanging lots of emotion and laughter.

A moment I will truly treasure forever. A new tradition and ritual that had been discovered unexpectedly. And as I look back and reflect on this sunrise I see that so much inspiration has already come out of it. What a supernatural way to bring in the New Year.