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Day 2: Building the Habit, One Morning at a Time



DISCLAIMER: DO NOT READ ANYTHING IN BRACKETS OR IN RED TEXT, THAT'S A BIT OUT OF CONTEXT USUALLY MY MIND OFF RAMPING.

3:30 a.m. That’s the time my eyes blinked open today, way earlier than usual, just like I had planned. At first, I considered staying in bed just for a minute, you know, to "mentally prepare", but then I remembered those six words from yesterday: This is what we do now. And so, I got up. No internal debate, no bargaining with my alarm clock. Just me, the cool, quiet darkness of the early morning, and that simple mantra guiding me. Mantra huh? Very interesting word. Mantra comes from a Sanskrit word meaning a “sacred message or text, charm, spell, counsel.” The Indian spiritual leader Sri Sathya Baba said, “A pure thought from a pure heart is better than a mantra.” Meaning, a mantra is great and all, but really, pure intentions and genuine kindness mean more. So rather let's call this one a pure thought.

The Stillness of 3:30

There’s something surreal about being awake when the rest of the world is still fast asleep. It’s like time slows down just for you, offering a rare kind of clarity. No notifications buzzing, no distractions pulling at your attention, none of that just a blank slate, waiting for you to make your mark.

I sat at my desk, the air slightly chilly, the kind that makes you pull a hoodie closer. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment as I let the quiet sink in. The house, quiet. Small drops of rain outside as the rain drizzles, the whole world silent. It’s in moments like these that you realise the power of solitude.

A New Rhythm

Yesterday felt like a test, in fact a battle of wills between my mind and body. Today? Today felt more like slipping into a rhythm. There was less resistance, fewer excuses. Well, let me not lie, I did wake up at 3:10 (I'm not sure if you've ever experienced this but somehow when you know in your mind that you have to wake up at a certain time your brain can remind you even in your sleep. Never experienced it? Well maybe I'm the weird one, if you have; welcome to the weirdos club.) and I was like no way I'm waking up in the next 20 mins I still need my sleep but I did it anyway. Maybe it’s because I’ve already proven to myself that I can do this. That first step isn’t as daunting anymore.

I brewed my coffee, a ritual that’s quickly becoming sacred, and watched the steam curl upward, dissipating into the dim light of my desk lamp(very bright ring light). My mind felt clearer than it did yesterday, like the act of showing up is starting to untangle the mental clutter.

Momentum is Everything

It’s funny how the smallest things can make you feel unstoppable. Two consecutive mornings of writing before dawn may not seem like much and for sure it's not much, but it’s already starting to feel like a win. It’s like I’m building something, laying down the first bricks of a foundation that’ll carry me forward. I really believe that one of the things that pull us back is failure to just pause and celebrate small wins, not realising that the so called "BIG WINS" are nothing but just a collective of the little minute wins.  

And here’s the thing: the more I show up, the more I realise this isn’t just about writing or waking up early. It’s about redefining who I am, who I want to be. I’m not just someone who writes, in fact I'm not even a writer; I’m someone who shows up. (Now I'm thinking to myself, if I can be able to show up tomorrow around the same time same place same cup of coffee, I might actually write about the power of small wins) remove brackets.

So What?

As I write this, the sky is still dark, the coffee still warm ( wait , nope it's cold now). The day ahead feels full of potential. I’m not sure what it’ll bring maybe challenges, surprises, sure  a few setbacks but I’m ready. Because this is what we do now. We rise, we write, we create, we listen, we don't judge and we keep moving forward.

Day 2 is just the beginning of something bigger. Let’s see how far we can take this.

References;
https://www.vocabulary.com/ 
https://chatgpt.com/ 
my brain (oops no link to this one) 

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