Bloomington’s Morning Motivation

Emilia Carmona

Street P.O.V

Jul. 10, 2025

News Reporting

As the morning sun washes over the streets of Bloomington many get out of their beds and find a reason to button their shirts. For some it’s the strong promise of a cup of coffee, a hug from their partner, or even the pure necessity of income.

In a recent survey from Talker Research; an independent research outlet, 38% of respondents out of a pool of 2,000 Americans, agreed with the sentiment that they are bad in the morning, or can’t even find a reason to get up. This is not the case for Bloomington resident Jeff Simon.

“I was taught that you get up, support your family, and move forward in life,” said Simon.

Simon shared that he made sure to pass down these values with his daughter Emilia Simon, even expressing that he sees himself in his daughter’s work ethic as a nursing student.

“My dad always taught me that a body in motion stays in motion, and if you slow down, at a certain age, you tend to not have the incentive” expressed Emilia while rubbing her father’s shoulder.

Emilia and Jeff explained that they’ve always been very close, and that they’ve always motivated each other.

“Thankfully, I have a person to caffeinate me, because I’m not really a huge coffee drinker” said Emilia.

Unlike Emilia, 58-year-old Eddie Blann relies on coffee every morning to fuel him. Blann shared that his main motivation when stepping into the workforce was for his sister who fell ill and needed help with her medical bills. Eddie shared that when his sister passed away he found a new purpose; to get up for himself.

“Coffee is what really helps me up, but really it’s for myself, for my income, and for the blessing of having a new day.”

Eddie expressed that he doesn’t see himself as an optimist, yet he tries to look for the bright side of the morning, particularly the sun.

National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Sarah Klein shares that a couple minutes of sunshine in the morning can significantly improve mood, focus, and overall motivation for the day. Sarah states that brief moments of sun can regulate your circadian rhythm and can make you feel instantly refreshed and revitalized.

This is especially true for town local Avery Kurth.

“Being outdoors, or even just walking around in the sunshine is really motivating for me,” said Kurth.

Kurth also shared that her mom is in  town and her morning rituals have been a lot quicker out of the excitement to hang out with her mom.

“I love hanging out with my mom. she’s like my best friend and I love hanging out with her” said Avery speaking through her smile.

While family is a common motivation for many Bloomingtonians, purpose is specific to each individual. Whether it’s the morning sun, a walk at dawn, or a commitment to their jobs,  Bloomington always finds a reason to pull themselves out of their bed.