The Eternal Sunset: A Journey Through Time and Freedom
From the time I was young, the sunset has represented something more to me than just the end of the day—it symbolized freedom, the kind I didn’t have growing up in group homes and foster homes. As a teenager, there were moments when I would stare at the sky, longing for the beauty of a sunset I couldn’t see. The sun’s descent beyond the horizon became my promise to myself: one day, I will be free. Free to watch the sky transform into something extraordinary, day after day.
I found that freedom when I turned 18 in 1999. Every day since, I sought the beauty of the sunset, always keeping that promise to myself. But between 2018 and 2023, life weighed heavily on me. I entered a dark period filled with medical issues, trauma, and the overwhelming stress of the pandemic. In those years, I lost touch with my cherished ritual of watching the sun set, unsure of what the future held.
In 2023, I made a conscious decision to return to that grounding habit. I realized that in those moments, at the end of the day, the sunset was what anchored me, calmed me, and brought joy to my heart, even if only for a short time. No matter where I was in the world, I found a place to witness the sky’s final act of the day, and I promised myself never to let go of that again. If I happen to miss a sunset I feel a sense of emptiness that day.
Now, whenever people see a sunset, they think of me. I’ve become the sunset girl to those who know me best. Friends and acquaintances send me photos of their sunsets, a small gesture to say I see you, I’m thinking of you. It’s the greatest compliment I could ever receive. For me, each sunset is a reminder of the beauty we so often miss in the rush of our daily lives. It’s a call to pause, to breathe, to take in the world as it is—before the sun disappears and the day fades into memory.
Existential Beauty in the Ephemeral
There’s something deeply existential about a sunset. It marks the end of a day, a chapter closing, yet it offers the most stunning display before it leaves us in darkness. It’s a reminder that endings aren’t inherently bad—they can be breathtaking. Sunsets teach me that life, like the sky, is full of colors we can only see when we take the time to stop and look.
No two sunsets are the same. Each is a masterpiece, fleeting and unique, much like the moments that make up our lives. Missing one could mean missing the most beautiful painting nature has to offer. I’ve watched many people walk by, oblivious to the beauty unfolding above them. But I can't let these moments slip by unnoticed. They ground me, bring me back to the present, and remind me that life’s most profound beauty often happens in the quiet moments when we’re still, when we’re paying attention.
Gratitude in the Stillness
For me, the sunset is more than just a visual spectacle. It’s a moment of gratitude. It’s a chance to reflect on the day, to release its worries, and to be present with the earth as it prepares to rest. I often think about how fragile life is, how tomorrow is never promised. Watching the sunset is my way of making peace with the day’s end, knowing that if I don’t wake up tomorrow, I’ve spent my last moments connected to something timeless, something beautiful.
I don’t chase sunrises in quite the same way—there’s something about the sunset that feels more natural, more in sync with the rhythm of my day. Maybe it’s because I’ve always associated it with closing chapters, with the hope that comes from making it through another day. The sunset is my time to breathe, to exist, to witness the final gift the day has to offer.
The sunset, in all its glory, is my constant. It’s the moment I look forward to every day, no matter where I am. It reminds me of the freedom I fought for, the beauty that exists in even the simplest things, and the peace that comes from just being present. Sunsets, to me, are more than a fleeting image in the sky—they are my reminder that no matter what happens each day, there is always beauty to be found in the end. It’s a beauty I will never take for granted.
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