Watch the sun rise or set

Enjoy a moment of wonder in an absolutely ordinary day

Twice a day something rather magical happens. As the sun peaks over the rim of the world or settles down under it, the sky changes color and the light shifts in intensity. If the weather is cloudy it’s hard to see any of this, but on a great many days, a good part of the show is visible.

Yet I’m guessing that if you’re like most people, you don’t pay a whole lot of attention to this show. In the morning people might be getting everyone ready. During winter, plenty of folks are still at work when the sun sets, or else they’re inside dealing with dinner and the like.

But noticing can introduce a moment of awe into an otherwise normal day. So, over the next 24 hours, try to watch the sun set or rise. You can find the exact time for your location by looking at the weather app on your phone (the hour by hour forecast will probably list the sunrise and sunset times). Set an alarm on your phone for a few minutes before and then make sure to get yourself somewhere that you can see the spectacle.

If you’re in an office building, head to a window facing the right direction. If you’re home or elsewhere, try going outside. You might identify a spot near you that is mostly clear for visibility and then head there.

There’s no need to make a production out of this. Ten minutes or less will do.

But it can be easy to go through life mindlessly. Introducing a moment of beauty can make a normal day more memorable. And while some wonders are less accessible to the average person — I’m probably never going to climb one of the Himalayan peaks — the sunrise and sunset are accessible to a lot of people most days.

Best to celebrate these little miracles.