Sunrise at Wat Arun: A Different Kind of Return

This morning I went to Wat Arun before sunrise.

I didn’t go expecting anything big. I just wanted to be there in the quiet.

I took off my shoes and walked slowly across the stone. The air was still. The river was calm. The sky was just beginning to change. For a while, I stood there thinking about nothing and everything at the same time.

Then the sun started to rise.

Without warning, I felt emotion come over me. My eyes filled with tears and I didn’t try to stop them. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t even happiness. It was something deeper.

This trip, i’m slowing down, reflecting, and listening to my own thoughts.

Standing there barefoot, watching the light move across the temple and the river, I felt very present. Very grounded. Very aware of how quickly life moves.

The sun kept rising. Boats began to pass. The city slowly woke up.

But for a few quiet moments, I just stood there and felt grateful to be exactly where I was.