The First Sixty Minutes

The first sixty minutes after waking are important for my day. This unguarded hour is important for me. In this hour,

the mind has not begun to defend itself, justify itself, or perform for the world. In this state, thoughts are closer to instincts than opinions.

The mind works best when it is so relaxed that it forgets to expect. In that state, thought becomes playful rather than anxious; insight arrives uninvited.

We must respect this hour. Try not to surrender this hour to external stimuli. This hour is not about productivity, planning, strategising, or optimising. The mind needs time to find its direction before movement begin. A moment of stillness, a sentence read slowly, or even an unhurried cup of tea can create an inner spaciousness that lasts longer than expected.

This is the hour when I am simply a person who has woken up after a good night's sleep. It is an honest hour.

The first sixty minutes teach me something about freedom, silence, slowness over speed, inwardness over display. This hour teaches humility, acknowledges that the mind is not a machine. It needs time to come on its own. It needs time to create depth.

The first sixty minutes do not guarantee a good day, but they offer a beginning that is conscious rather than accidental.

How I begin the day often determines not just what I do, but who I become for the rest of the day.

Happy Saraswati Puja.