It was quiet and I was by myself at the Windows section in Arches National Park, showing up well before the day’s light began spilling over the horizon. I scrambled over boulders to climb about 25 feet up, intending to get a shot of Turret Arch through North Window Arch as the sun rose, lighting the desert landscape. After a short bit of solitude, a couple showed up and settled in to one corner of the arch. And then a lone wanderer crested it and sat down facing east, waiting for the sun.

The slow parade of hiking sungazers totaled about 20 souls to watch the sun rise from one of the most beautiful vantage points on Earth. This completely eviscerated my original plan. While I was a bit annoyed at having gotten up so early to not “succeed”, I figured I could stay annoyed, or I could work with what I had.

What I had was both a communal event and a different perspective. I couldn’t see the sun because I was perched with my back up against another boulder, but I could see the faces of the people in front of me.

I saw awe.
I saw peacefulness.
I saw appreciation.

This completely flipped my original irritation and reminded me there’s so much in life to appreciate, even if it doesn’t always show up the same way we think it will. Because it rarely does.

Enjoy this image and more photos made for your home from Arches National Park.