For most weekdays at 7 p.m., I sit in the car, finally heading home after a long day of school and extracurriculars. I always feel anxiety and stress physically enveloping me. Staring out the window, watching the monotonous flow of cars, listening to the same music, everything seems unexciting. Tired of the negative thoughts, I usually force myself to sleep on the way home.
One Thursday evening, after a piano recital that left me contemplating life, my mind again started clinging to the same negative thoughts. Did I achieve anything valuable to my family and community at all? How are my peers able to have a positive impact on their community when I can’t even handle myself? Even worse, my caffeine intake further prevented me from finding tranquility.
Before the car entered the highway, I lowered my window curtain because the sun wasn’t as bright as before.
At that moment, I was captivated by the scene outside the car window. As the sun drifted below the horizon, the sky separated into distinct layers of colors; amber, light yellow, and soft pink. I had never truly spent time appreciating the sunset before. It felt like the sun was reminding me to pay attention to my surroundings and everything that I already had. Grateful thoughts began to flow through my mind. Having the ability to see what a sunset looks like is a gift; being able to attend piano lessons is a privilege; eating delicious takeaway food for dinner is a blessing. Naturally, these thoughts calmed me down.
After discovering the magical healing power of the sunset, on days when I feel down or anxious about my packed to-do list, I’ve learned to find comfort in nature. Sometimes, the stationary clouds create a sense of timelessness that helps me manage my anxiety about the future, the flocks of birds congregating across the sky remind me I’m not the only one navigating the unknown. These sparks of positivity that stem from nature are different from material happiness, adding uniqueness to my everyday life.
Still, the sunset is my favorite. On the highway, even with the same restless flow of cars, old soft pop music, and the unending work waiting to be completed, when I turn my head and spot the sunset, everything I’m experiencing seems to have its purpose.
Although it may sound cliché, nature does heal. Living in a society that is fast-paced, unpredictable, and sometimes exhausting, the peacefulness and timelessness the sunset brings become even more precious.
In the future, whenever I feel enshrouded by everything in life, I know what to do: to turn my head toward the direction where my eyes can find the sun and give myself time to decipher what it’s trying to convey.
