Finding the positives

I worked over night last night. I don’t do this regularly, just to help out. The problem with this is that I struggle to sleep before the nightshift, by 6am I am practically sleepwalking. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its perks and I think it is best to try and extract all the goodness out of the things we struggle to enjoy.

This is what I enjoy. The view at sunrise.

IMG_6313

The photo really doesn’t do it justice. The sky at sunrise turns a lovely golden colour as if it were lit up by a million fires, and at 6am I really do feel like one of the only ones awake to appreciate it. With the exception of course of the little people that I can see climbing onto the top deck of the Norwegian Jewell as she arrives, so silently I often don’t notice until it has already docked.

It always fascinates me how such a big city has very quiet periods. Periods where the millions of people that walk these streets are absent. The 9-5 has us collectively running about at the same time and despite the impressive numbers of high rises just out of image, they are only occupied for a small portion of the day. Growing up in a rural area of the UK, skyscrapers were new to me. I always thought from Hollywood movies that this is where the action happens. I have since learned that this is far from the truth.

So although I was half asleep at this very moment, I was able to appreciate the view. I think it is important to find what we like best about the things we don’t really want to do. The scenic route home, the opportunities to blog in the gaps when work is quiet, the view from the window… It is one of the few things that keep me sane at times!

 

Published by

Dealing with Disorder

A website dedicated to Tourette, OCD and co-occurring conditions. Daily updates celebrating neurodiversity.

16 thoughts on “Finding the positives”

      1. Yeah well I got plenty of sh*t for it over the years…..”you need to go to bed at a decent hour”…..as if my parents didn’t make be do the ”decent hour” thing for my first 18 years. I used to stare at the ceiling at night & cry because I was NOT sleepy then, & I was bored out of my tree……..you’re deliberately staying wake”……”you’re not normal”…….I got awful liquid medicines shoved down my throat to make me sleep……it never worked.

        Like

  3. Ok it probably a stupid comment but what I really appreciate is having a window in my office. I have never had one before and seeing the sun on my otherwise cloudy day makes me smile

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Not at all! I couldn’t find anything less motivating personally than not having a window to look out of. I feel that is why so many people lose motivation at work, we are all squashed into these small offices with nothing but white walls to look at, I think that is why I have always tried to avoid office work.
      I am not sure if this applies to you or your office is at home, but a window is a great stimulant for sure 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  4. I used to struggle with sunsets until an angel of a friend taught me about ISO settings!
    I can totally relate about silence being so unnatural in big cities. There’s currently a building construction right in front of where I live, so it can get super noisy in the days. I’m turning half-nocturnal. I live between evening and 3 am, and exams are helping with that! (Let it never be known I said that :P) 3 is one of the best hours of the day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Can they teach me about ISO settings too? Haha
      We actually have a building being demolished next door, its very loud but thankfully work is limited from 9-5. I don’t miss having to be awake late revising for exams or working on essays at all. What are your exams for?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Sure thing! Higher the ISO, the more sensitive the camera is to light, so it’s gonna capture low lit shots in the same colour you see them (too sensitive and it’s going to appear more vibrant than it really is). An ISO of 1600 or 3200 is pretty sensitive. For evening and night shots, it’s also a good idea to keep the Daylight settings low (preferably below zero? I don’t know it that varies from camera to camera)
        That could give you some pretty good night pictures! …except I don’t know if a phone camera has these settings!
        With a DSLR though, it looks pretty good. I’m almost no good at photography, but I stuck to my buddy’s advice, and waking up early turned out to be totally worth it! (And I finally did upload it: here it is! https://wp.me/p7MXFt-Qw)
        The construction here can stop at 12 and then continue at 2—in the morning! But these days, they mostly wind up by 11, latest. I’ve got my 12th grade board exams this year. To “prepare” us for it, school’s basically been testing us all year! I can’t tell when one set of tests ends and another begins anymore!
        (The funny part? I think half my class is writing chemistry-inspired poetry. Figures!)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. You sound like you know your photography 🙂 The skies are beautiful! Great capture. I agree, sometimes getting up early isn’t about the routine but to capture the beauty. Thank you for sharing that with us, it makes me want to get up that early every morning haha.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Some would call it getting up early, some others, sleeping reeeally late XD Either way, 2-6 are definitely the best hours of the day! (Even when you’re asleep, because, sleep!)
        And thank you!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. This week, it was cold and icy and dreery out for 3 days straight. I kinda felt that way too. But, then on the third day THE SUN CAME OUT! I was so excited to see the sun after days of gloom…. I think I was A little over excited, but when the cold can be so paralyzing the sun is my welcome sight each day.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yeah I get what you mean, in the UK the sun rarely makes an appearance, so when it does I try my best to make the most of it! I don’t currently have the same problem in Sydney, I am trying not to take the sun for granted :p
      I am glad the sun came out for you, there is nothing wrong with a little over-excitement!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. I’ve always been amazed of the ‘ghost town’ feeling of the business district of cities at night. Vancouver BC is the city closest to keeping a vibrant street night and day because they integrated their businesses and housing much more than the US cities I’ve lived in or visited. Gorgeous photo. Truly everyday is beautiful if you take those moments to look at what’s beyond your busy mind.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks for commenting! I would love to visit Vancouver, I have a couple of friends that have moved over and they love it. Hopefully one day.
      And I agree, I try to escape my mind and appreciate what is around me as often as possible, this is much easier in this great location.
      I hope you have a lovely day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment