I’ve always envied those who can jump up at six in the morning, do yoga, and start the day with a smile. My body is categorically against such experiments. But I’ve found my own ways to love the morning.

The first is water. The simplest, but I keep a glass on my nightstand and drink it every morning, as if it were a small cleansing ritual. The second is music. No alarm clocks. I put on a playlist where the songs change from calm to more energetic. It turns out that my mood rises along with the music.

I also have a strange habit: every morning I light a candle. Yes, just like that. No mysticism, no esotericism. The fire just makes the atmosphere cozy, and I feel like I'm starting the day not in chaos, but in order.

Sometimes I feel like rituals aren't about utility, but about feeling in control. The world can be unpredictable, but if my morning starts the same, then I have a point of support.

And you know what? It works. The morning didn't become magical, but it became mine.