You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you're

“You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you’re excited for the day? That’s one of my main goals in life.” So spoke Kirsten Dunst, actress of depth and grace, whose words in their simplicity strike upon one of the greatest truths of existence. For what greater treasure is there than to rise each dawn not with dread, nor with weariness, but with joy? In this brief utterance, she names what sages and poets across the centuries have sought: the alignment of the soul with the day, the marriage of life’s purpose with the morning’s light. To wake with excitement is to live not in survival, but in harmony.

The origin of this saying lies in Dunst’s reflections on her life and career, a path not without its shadows. From a child star under the heavy gaze of fame to an adult artist carving her own place, she learned that happiness is not found merely in achievement or applause. Rather, it is discovered in the quiet rhythm of the everyday—the sense that life itself is worth embracing at dawn. Her words are a gentle rebellion against the world’s false promises, reminding us that true wealth is not gold, nor fame, but the joy of waking with purpose.

The ancients, too, knew this truth. Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, wrote in his Meditations: “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive.” Though burdened with empire, he saw the miracle of rising with gratitude. Likewise, in the Psalms, the poet proclaims: “Joy comes in the morning.” The dawn has ever been a symbol of renewal, a chance to begin again. Dunst’s words echo this timeless wisdom: that to meet the sunrise with eagerness is itself a form of victory.

History also gives us examples of those who embodied this spirit. Consider Helen Keller, who, though blind and deaf, lived with a radiant optimism. Each morning she greeted the world with determination, saying, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Her days were not free of hardship, but she rose with courage, eager to embrace them. Her story reveals that excitement for the day is not born of ease, but of meaning. To rise gladly is to know one’s life has value, even in trial.

From this we may learn that the true goal of life is not endless labor or ceaseless striving, but to shape a life worth waking up to. A life filled with love, with curiosity, with service, with creation. If each morning is met with heaviness, then something must be transformed. Dunst’s goal is not a trivial desire for fleeting happiness, but a profound alignment between being and doing, between the heart’s longing and the day’s unfolding. To awaken with joy is to live as one whose life has found its center.

Practical wisdom follows. Seek to craft your mornings not with haste, but with intention. Ask yourself: what life would make me eager to rise? Begin with small rituals—gratitude at dawn, a task that excites, time with those you love. Align your labor not only with necessity but with meaning. Even in hardship, find one thing in each day worth waking for, and let that be your anchor. In time, such practices awaken in the soul that quiet joy of which Dunst speaks—the joy of rising eager for the day.

Thus, remember her words: “That’s one of my main goals in life.” Make it your goal also. For to wake in the morning with excitement is no small thing—it is the fruit of a life lived in harmony, a spirit at peace with itself, and a heart open to the world. Chase not only wealth, nor fame, nor fleeting pleasures, but that simple and sacred gift: to greet each dawn not with dread, but with delight. For in such mornings lies the secret of a life well lived.