Fall Mornings, Unrushed: Why I No Longer Rush Into My Day

For years, my mornings belonged to everyone else.

Raising three boys while working in high-tech communications meant there was always somewhere to be, something to remember, or someone who needed me. Between family schedules and work demands, the day started quickly—and usually stayed that way.

I loved raising my boys. But after years of busy mornings, I've come to appreciate a different pace.

The first big change? I don't use an alarm anymore unless I'm flying somewhere. After so many years of waking up to one, waking on my own feels like a small luxury.

I usually go outside first thing. Just for a few minutes, to get some fresh air, look around, and think about what I'm grateful for. This time of year in Fairfax, the air has that first cool edge to it, and the light comes in softer and lower through the trees. Nothing elaborate. I don't need to make it a practice with a name. It's simply a little time to appreciate what's good before I start thinking about what needs doing.

Then there's that first cup of coffee.

I love the anticipation of it, the warmth of the cup, and those first few sips. On cooler fall mornings, it's even better. After years of fitting coffee around everything else, I enjoy giving it a moment of its own. Some mornings it's at home; some mornings it's a latte out, with nowhere I need to be next.

No phone. No TV. I put on my morning playlist on Spotify and let the music keep me company. For a little while, there's nothing I need to answer or catch up on.

I still work. I still have deadlines, responsibilities, and days that get away from me. An unhurried morning doesn't guarantee a calm day, but I value having some time that's mine before it all begins.

This is one of the things I appreciate most about this chapter of my life: getting to choose a few things differently. After years of organizing mornings around my children and my career, I can take my time with the coffee. Stay outside a little longer. Listen to another song.

It's the same appreciation for everyday things that runs through Marin Cashmere. Beautiful things matter to me, but so does making time to enjoy them.

And these days, one of my favorite things is a morning without an alarm.