A Lake Michigan Sunset

A sunset in Greece over the Aegean Sea was beautiful. A sunset in the mountains of Norway was stunning. A beach sunset in Hawaii was breathtaking.

Yet a Lake Michigan sunset remains the most magical of them all.

People who finds themselves lost, hurt, or broken; often travel to the shores of Lake Michigan for healing. They watch the sun slowly move along the horizon until it meets the crashing waves below. From there, the sky erupts in pinks, purples, and reds. And even in the hardest times, a Michigan sunset reminds us that the world of beautiful.

Coming from the Upper Peninsula, a Lake Michigan sunset often means the end of an adventure. A long journey home after a weekend away from it all. Up here, there are no freeways, malls, or traffic jams. Here there is only peace, and to watch a Lake Michigan sunset before the final cross of the bridge signals a ‘thank you’ for the beauty, and the promise of a return.

It’s a place to run away for a little while. A journey that heals. When everything else may crash around us, one place remains to squash all the fears.

The best study spot, vacation getaway, meditation mat, or playground. There are few places in the world that empty a mind so much, while making our heart so full again.

I’ve witnessed dusk on mountains, tropical islands, fjords, glaciers, cities, and planes. However, none create such a sense of wonder and bliss. Because a Michigan sunset makes us content, and being content means we’re happy.

It’s our favorite past time. We drink some Bell’s on the beach, build sandcastles like kids, play Frisbee with friends. The best memories here are always made in the sand. And when time comes for the sun to go down, we usually notice that we’re red from the sun. However, we always forgive and forget, because the sunset makes it worth the burn.

A Michigan sunset has the two best accessories: clouds and lighthouses. And when it wears both, our lives transform into a moving postcard.

If we’re lucky, a freighter passes on the horizon. We hear a rumble in the distance; as there is so little sound even the slightest noise touches us.

And then even after the sun sets, the sky remains magical. One of few places to see the stars so clear. The Milky Way dances and the northern lights sometimes surprise us with a spontaneous visit. Proving even after dark the best is yet to come.

A Michigan sunset has no seasonal boundaries. Whether winter, summer, spring, or fall, it sets every night for someone who is watching. And when we cannot watch, we know someone enjoys it for us.

Watching a day end beyond the waves proves not just a spectacle. It’s a way of life for those who live here. Whether Detroit or Marquette, Michigan or Michigan State, there is one thing we can always agree on:

A Lake Michigan sunset is our way of life, and there is no better life to live.