Before the World Needs Me
Issue #44 · Being an early bird has its perks.
Hi there, I’m Emily! 🙋🏼♀️ For those who are new, here’s a quick catch-up:
Five years ago, I packed my life into a suitcase and hit the road, moving to a new city every few months. Now, I write stories about the quirks, chaos and realities of living abroad, intertwined with my attempt to design a happy, meaningful life.
If you enjoy this post, stick around — something big is coming later in 2025!
Before the World Needs Me
The coffee is always prepped the night before: beans ground, water poured, travel mug patiently set on the counter. A quick flick of the [ON] switch is all it takes when my 6am alarm goes off, as there’s no time to waste — in Mexico, the sunrise is the only thing that’s ever on time.
The ocean is just a seven-minute walk from my front door, so by the time those first peachy streaks of morning appear, my feet are already in the sand. I always bring a notebook and pen, though more often than not, I let my thoughts ebb and flow impermanently along with the waves.
As peaceful as it is, I’m never alone. The beach is dotted with dog walkers, ambitious joggers, and occasionally, a crew of rowdy vampires stumbling home, eager to escape the dawn light that will expose their recklessness. A few local fishermen battle the pelicans for the first lucky catch of the day, and of course, there’s a handful of surfers paddling out before rush hour, their youthful energy and weathered boards promising a solid people-watching opportunity whether there’s a swell or not.
Everyone knows the sunsets here are magic — with a due-west-facing beach and a hot, arid winter climate, the evening golden hour show is not only breathtakingly spectacular but remarkably consistent. It’s the main event, free admission, seven days a week, no alarm clock needed. But the real payoff comes from waking up with the roosters — there's a subtle satisfaction in getting a head start on the day while everyone else is still snoozing that makes overcoming any groggy reluctance to leave my warm bed worth it every time.
I don’t catch the sunrise often, but I should — because with it comes a calm sense of freedom that quickly evaporates once the town begins to buzz. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this occasional addition to my morning routine, it’s that stealing a few quiet hours from the day’s demands, deadlines, and distractions feels like the world’s most obvious, worst-kept secret — but still, sunrises belong only to those who are willing to wake up and claim them.
Recommended related posts:
In Pesos We Trust: At first, living life in pesos was jarring, but I’ve learned to appreciate how a currency can carry the personality of a place.
Jetlag Diaries — The beauty of inviting chaos, rejecting comfort zones and blindly putting your trust in strangers.
No Hay Luz — No power, no WiFi, no cell service. Bienvenidos a Puerto Escondido!
This is such a humble brag and I support it so much 😂
I'm currently in NZ so I'm waking up at 6AM/7AM... aka, noon ET, meaning I'm launching face first into stacked meetings, unread notifications, and all the emails from the day so far haha. I'm envious of your zen mornings! I always tell myself "what if I lived like this even in the US?" but then I revert back to my 9AM wake-ups immediately upon arrival to US soil. Maybe in 2025...
This is a beautifully poetic look at a magical time of the day. I honestly haven't seen the sun rise in an embarrassingly long time, but your word's-eye view has me thinking of getting out of bed a lot earlier on a regular basis. Very well done!