This morning, I decided to do something a little crazy.
For the past few days, I’ve watched my husband start his mornings with what he calls a cold face plunge. He fills a big pot with water, adds a mountain of ice, and then dunks his face in it—holding his breath as long as he can. He comes up sputtering, smiling, and wide awake.
He swears it gets his brain going, and I’ll be honest—I wasn’t so sure. But today, I thought, Why not?
So I leaned over the sink, plunged my face into that icy pot, held my breath as long as I could, and came up gasping.
And you know what? It worked. I was awake. Wide awake.
But that wasn’t the end of it. All day, a question kept running through my mind:
“Okay, you’re awake. But what are you awake for?”
And that’s when it hit me. You don’t just wake up to move through your routine. You don’t just wake up to survive the day.
You wake up to show up.
Show Up for Yourself
Being awake means being present to your own needs, your own purpose, your own plan. Showing up for yourself is not selfish—it’s necessary. When you honor what matters most in your life, you live with more intention and joy.
Show Up for God
Waking up means recognizing God’s presence right there with you. He’s guiding, speaking, nudging—if we’re paying attention. He shows us where to go, what to notice, who to love. When you show up for Him, you align your day with something bigger than yourself.
Show Up for Others
And finally, waking up means remembering that life is not meant to be lived alone. Others need you—and you need them. Showing up for your family, your friends, your coworkers, even strangers, is what makes life full.
So yes, if you need a pot of ice water to get started, go for it. It may shock your system awake. But the real work is what happens after—the choice to show up in your day with heart, purpose, and presence.
Because life isn’t about just waking up.
It’s about waking up to show up.
Today’s Curious Question: Who needs you to show up in a way only you can?