Sunrise. Sunset.

The song “Sunrise, Sunset” written by Sheldon Harnick and Lewis Bock Jerrold, and made famous in the musical Fiddler on the Roof and its parody in The Lion King, references these daily celestial events as markers in the passage of time.

Swiftly flow the days

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

One of the things I’ve come to really appreciate about the opportunity to live on a boat for months at a time is just how precious are these moments. Most boaters appear to be equally mesmerized judging by how many texts I receive from folks who’ve captured them in photos and sent them along, demonstrating that the moment was savored and worth sharing. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that aboard a boat, one is often awake at the break of dawn as the sunrise unravels its glory, holding our attention and inspiring awe. Perhaps it’s the slower pace of living aboard that allows us to really cherish these moments and not take them for granted. Perhaps, because sunrises and sunsets are more spectacular over water, they better capture our attention and hold it for just a bit longer than we otherwise might allow.

It’s not just boaters of course. Many who live by or visit beaches or lakes experience the same thing. Their albums of vacation photos include quite a few sunrises and sunsets, some frozen in time in silver frames on their mantels. We know some folks who make the twice-daily walk to the beach to experience both episodes, frequently accompanied by a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening.

It is true that sunrises and sunsets are often prettier on the water. This is attributed to: the water's surface providing a reflective mirror, doubling the visual impact; the water droplets in the air scattering light; the clouds intercepting and reflecting the sun's rays, making the colors even more intense and vibrant; and the unobstructed view over a large body of water with fewer land-based obstructions providing a longer horizon, creating a more expansive and dramatic visual effect. Whatever the reason or reasons, they command our gaze – and our reflections.

Savoring a sunrise is about intentionally experiencing the beauty of a new day while cultivating mindfulness, gratitude and calm. It involves slowing down, appreciating the sensory details like colors, the warmth, and the sounds of the morning, engaging the senses to heighten the experience. Recognizing the ephemeral nature of the sunrise can make the moment feel even more precious and worth savoring.

Cherishing sunsets provides similar benefit. As they occur at the days’ end, we tend to linger a bit longer after that prismatic flash of green light. At sunset, we tend to be less hurried or less anxious to run in the calendar races that start our days. We are more ready to relax. At these times, we allow ourselves to take a bit more time to appreciate the beauty of the moment, listen to the sounds around us, like the wind, the birds, or the lapping water, and feel the air as it tickles our skin.

Savoring sunrises and sunsets helps us to appreciate the simple and routine wonders that are always around us. And, though fleeting, they are forgiving - if we miss one, we know there will be another tomorrow to enjoy.