Yesterday afternoon I was relaxing in my balcony sit spot. I had just finished writing in my appreciation journal, studying a bit of the Tao and turned my eyes to the sky to gaze at the wondrous clouds dancing overhead. These were unlike any I have ever seen before. Layers of brilliant white fluffy clouds emerging in two directions, creating a vortex of swirling cotton candy where the sun would shine through intermittently as the clusters of clouds danced toward and away from each other.
I could barely take my eyes off the vision in front of me. I sat for many minutes just taking in the majesty of nature. Finally, I decided to go inside for a moment to invite my daughters out to witness the glorious sights alongside me. We sat together for many more minutes, in awe at the brilliance, soaking in the beauty.
It was one of those moments that stays with you. When your breath is stopped short by the vastness, the great and miraculous beauty of this world we are blessed to live in.
The experience reminded me of Mary Oliver’s insightful quote: “There couldn’t be a more splendid world, and here I am existing in it.”
Moments like these are what remind me to embrace the wonder of being.
When my babes were little ones, they would walk around the world in constant awe and wonder…and their fresh eyes would inspire me to slow down and savor the beauty of nature, the richness of being.
As they have grown and as life has grown more full, I have sometimes forgotten to savor and open myself to this awe and wonder. And yet, moments like these remind me of how powerful it is to be in awe. How essential it is to allow myself to live in wonder.
It is the wonder, the joy of experiencing life with new eyes, the savoring of a moment that takes your breath away, the presence of mind to be in the here and now that makes life so rich and meaningful.
For me, this has been a practice. Remembering to be here now. To live fully in the present.
This joy of wonder may arise from learning something new, like I did yesterday, when I happily discovered maitri. It could be from connecting with someone we love, like I did today when I cuddled up with my girls and we laughed together about a silly YouTube video. We could practice presence as we walk on the beach or through a field or down the street. We could be in awe as we look at the blue sky or the luminous moon. We could be in wonder as we notice the rhythms and cycles of the world around us. We could be in awe as we listen to the words of a poem, like this one, from one of my fave poets.
Wonder can be inspired by the simplest experience, something we often take for granted, like when we place a hand on our heart and one on our belly and feel the breath of life move us…we could experience wonder for life itself.
Wonder can be inspired by visiting new places and meeting new people, by taking in the majesty of the world.
When we open our hearts and minds, anything in life can be miraculous. Everything can be a wonder.
Most often, I have found, wonder and awe are present in the softening, the surrendering, the being. Less so in the doing, the rushing, the striving.
Most often, I have found, wonder and awe are present in the simple, everyday extraordinary things. Like the sound of laughter, the feel of a hug, the cuteness of a kitten. Less so in the pixels of our phones or the busy~ness of our lives.
I believe that to live in wonder is a choice and a practice. As children, we looked at the world with wonder in our eyes. As adults, we only have to open ourselves to this possibility and reconnect with the child within to remember the wonder of being.
Today I invite you to give yourself permission to be in awe. To experience wonder. And to remember the joy of BEing here now.
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