When I wake up every morning, I smile and say, 'Thank you.'

The words of Carole King, “When I wake up every morning, I smile and say, ‘Thank you.’ Because out of my window I can see the mountains, then go hiking with my dog and share her bounding joy in the world,” are simple, yet they carry the weight of an eternal teaching. They remind us that gratitude is not found in riches or crowns, but in the quiet moments when the soul recognizes the beauty before it. The smile she offers at dawn is not born of luxury, but of awareness—of the grandeur of the mountains, of the faithful companionship of her dog, of the unmeasured gift of another day.

The ancients taught that to awaken with a thankful heart is to align oneself with the rhythm of the universe. For he who greets the morning with complaint already closes his spirit against joy, while she who rises with gratitude opens her life to blessings. King’s practice of saying “thank you” at the start of each day is the echo of prayers offered for millennia—by monks in their cloisters, by shepherds watching their flocks, by sages who rose before dawn to greet the rising sun. It is the practice of honoring the miracle of life before rushing into its labors.

The mountains she beholds stand as symbols of permanence, strength, and the divine. To gaze upon them each morning is to be reminded that life, though fleeting, rests within a greater order that endures beyond us. The mountains call the human heart to humility and awe, reminding us of both our smallness and our place within creation. They are the natural temples of the earth, and King’s gratitude for them reflects the reverence our ancestors once held for sacred landscapes.

Her companionship with her dog is no small detail. For in the joy of animals we see unfiltered life, a love for existence that is unburdened by worry or ambition. When she shares her dog’s bounding joy, she partakes in a lesson older than civilization itself: to delight in the present, to run freely upon the earth, to find happiness in the simplest gifts of air, movement, and togetherness. In this bond between human and animal is reflected the harmony of nature, a reminder that joy is best when shared.

History offers us kindred examples. The poet William Wordsworth, wandering through the hills of England, spoke of how nature restored his weary heart and lifted him to “a sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused.” Likewise, Japanese haiku masters like Bashō found enlightenment in the smallest encounters with the natural world: a frog’s splash, the scent of blossoms, the sound of wind in bamboo. Carole King’s morning ritual joins this long tradition of those who find their greatest treasures not in palaces, but in the humble majesty of the living world.

The lesson here is clear: happiness is not hidden in distant horizons, but waiting outside your window. It is found in the smile you choose to wear, in the gratitude you voice at dawn, in the simple companionships and the beauty of nature. To live with such awareness is to discover that peace and joy are not luxuries, but choices—choices to see, to thank, to share.

To practice this teaching, begin each morning with a word of thanks. Do not wait for greatness to appear before you—thank the sunlight on your face, the breath in your lungs, the presence of those you love, even the smallest blessings. Step outside, if you can, and let your eyes rest on sky, tree, stone, or stream. Walk with those who share your path—human or animal—and learn from their joy. In this way, your life will be rich beyond measure, for you will live not in want, but in wonder.

So remember, O seekers of tomorrow: each morning is a gift. Greet it with a smile, whisper your thanks, and walk into the world with joy. For the mountains endure, the faithful companion waits, and the day itself is a treasure. Live as Carole King lives—not in pursuit of what is absent, but in reverence for what is present. In that practice, you will find a happiness that time itself cannot take away.