Waking Up Early

Words & Photography
by Cece Torres



Since I was little, I could always remember my Dad up at the crack of dawn. Sitting on the couch inside or the Lanai outside. Drinking his cup of Yerba Mate and reading his Bible. In my eyes, he’s always been the most collected person, and amongst the many other things he does, I believe the way he starts his day has always contributed to that. Even when he has to coach a CrossFit class at 5am, he still gets up early enough to drink that cup of Mate and read his Bible.

In my eyes, he’s always been the most collected person, and amongst the many other things he does, I believe the way he starts his day has always contributed to that.

In the last few years, mornings have also become so sacred to me. There’s something so collecting about waking up slowly and starting your day off right. Even if I have to be somewhere early, I make it a goal to wake up even earlier that day. To give myself time to steep some tea or brew some coffee. Read my bible. Or to be outside either trail running or surfing.

Before this, I was always waking up in a rush to get to work, grabbing a hard boiled egg and protein bar on my way out...gross haha. But switching my mentality to waking up even earlier, eating a breakfast that makes me happier, and not feeling rushed, sets my entire day to be more collected, more productive, and less anxious.