Earning the sunset
Inertia — Nº186
The manifesto for building my life would be titled with possibly one of the best quotes I’ve heard from anyone recently.
It came from John Cena, who said (slightly paraphrased), “When the sun goes down, I look at what I did for the day and think, did I earn the sunset? Some days, I don’t, but I motivate myself to try to do it again.” I sit here writing this by my window on a rare warm day in October. The outside and inside are equally as quiet—with only the swaying trees and the periodic airliner with anything to say. It reminds me how lucky it is to be in these moments. Some people would do anything for quiet time in the daylight. So, there’s no time to waste on distractions that leave me forgetting the days that pass.
Each time the day winds down and the sky becomes a canvas of warm hues followed by dark blue, there becomes a moment when we need to pause, when we can approach our minds and ask ourselves what we made of the day. The daily mundane ever shimmers with potential, and every task or problem has an opportunity to learn how to think, move, and live better.
Some days, you might move mountains; the satisfaction of closing a big deal, completing a project, or simply helping someone smile will ripple out in ways you might never fully understand. But on other days, you may relax and leave the to-do list untouched. It’s not always about grand gestures, enormous attainments, or the 24/7 grind—and you can always end the day knowing your sunset was rightly earned.
In essence, small collections of moments can define everything. Repeated patience in the face of frustration, a kind or honest word that no one else would give, or taking one stepping stone towards a distant dream—these are all rightful ways to earn the day. Quiet persistence offers an amazing type of satisfaction—slow-burning but ever-present, which can warm you as surely as the day’s last light.
So, read essays and old books. Explore rabbit holes. Have a calendar and to-do list. Watch old movies. Value your time and leave your phone at home occasionally. Sit alone and notice the world: the fonts in trees or patterns on tables. Don’t hate or judge. Breathe through everything. Cherrypick your qualities. Write. Act fast. Live different. Craft a reputation. Do great work, and let it consume you. Fight your guilt. And learn to understand.
We all see the same sunset, but how we feel when we see it is up to us. Did we use our day well? Did we help someone, practice building on a new personal quality in public, or make vital steps in a project? Do we feel fulfilled in the setting sun today? If not, that’s okay too. My dad always said the sun will rise again. And it’s a reminder that each day is another chance to do better. A reminder to live. So when another night comes, we have another chance to say, “Yes, I earned this”.