Wonder

"Wonder is an invitation to move through life with open eyes and an open heart—to notice the meaningful moments, the magic, and quiet signs that remind us life is often richer than we realize."   — The Akashic Records

When most of us think of wonder, we think of the moments that leave us speechless. We think of sunsets painted across the sky, mountains rising in the distance, waves crashing against the shore, waterfalls, vast deserts, fields of wildflowers, and skies filled with stars.

We think of standing before an extraordinary work of art, listening to a piece of music that moves us to tears, witnessing the birth of a child, or watching the northern lights dance across the sky and suddenly realizing how vast and beautiful the world truly is.

These experiences awaken something within us. For a moment, we set aside our plans, our worries, and our endless lists of things to accomplish. We simply stand in awe.

Yet wonder is not reserved for life's grandest moments.

The beauty, mystery, and magnificence that inspire wonder are all around us.

They are found in the tiny seed that pushes its way through the soil, in the butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, in the changing of the seasons, in the rhythm of the tides, in the intricate patterns of snowflakes and seashells, and in the migration of birds across thousands of miles.

They are found in the extraordinary complexity of the human body, including the remarkable fact that our hearts continue beating day after day without a single instruction from us. They are found in the endless diversity of life on Earth, in the movement of the planets, in the vastness of the universe, and in the almost unimaginable immensity of space and time.

They are found in the questions we have not yet answered, in the invisible threads that connect all life, and in the realization that every person we encounter carries an entire lifetime of experiences, dreams, losses, hopes, and memories that we will never fully know.

They are found in children's laughter, the loyalty of a beloved pet, the way a cardinal lands on a branch just outside our window, the fragrance of flowers after the rain, and the first sip of coffee on a peaceful morning.

They are found in acts of kindness, in resilience, in love, in beauty, in creativity, and in the simple reality that, against impossible odds, we are here at all.

The problem is not that there is too little wonder in our lives.

The problem is that we have become so accustomed to miracles that we have begun thinking of them as ordinary.

We have forgotten to notice them.

In moments of wonder, we see mystery alongside certainty, beauty alongside difficulty, and imagination alongside logic.

The world has not become less remarkable.

We have simply become accustomed to its magnificence.

Most of us begin our lives seeing the magic in the world around us and experiencing the wonder it inspires within us. We are captivated by the smallest things. We ask questions, marvel at what we discover, and find delight in the world around us because everything feels new and full of possibility.

As we grow older, many of us become busy. We become practical. We become accustomed to the sources of wonder that surround us every day. Slowly, without intending to, we begin to take them for granted. We have become so busy pursuing what comes next that we overlook the beauty of what is already here.

Yet the magic remains.

Wonder can still be our experience if we allow ourselves to be moved by what has been there all along.

Wonder can still be our experience if we allow ourselves to be amazed.

What is needed is a willingness to be surprised, delighted, and inspired by the astonishing life unfolding all around us.

What fills you with wonder?

Journaling Prompts

• What filled me with wonder when I was a child?

• What moments have left me speechless, awestruck, or deeply moved?

• What beauty, mystery, or magic have I become so accustomed to that I no longer notice it?

• When was the last time I was surprised, delighted, or inspired by something simple?

• What would change if I moved through life with a greater willingness to notice, appreciate, and marvel at what is already here?

Affirmation

I allow myself to be moved by the extraordinary magic of ordinary life.

From My Journey

When I was growing up, my mother would stop to admire flowers, point out unusual clouds, and become excited whenever she spotted a bird she had never seen before. She taught me something that has stayed with me ever since.

She has an incredible sense of curiosity and playfulness. Whether we are sitting on the porch, taking a walk, or simply talking about life, she approaches the world with a sense of wonder that never seems to fade.

Several years ago, my family and I dedicated a park bench in her honor. Most dedication benches are placed in memory of someone after they're gone, but I've always believed in giving people flowers while they can enjoy them. More than anything, I wanted my mom to know how deeply she is loved and how much she has influenced all of us.

We chose an inscription that captured the way she has lived her life:

"In Honor of Eleanor 'Soots' MacMillan

Life is meant to be lived with the wonder of a child."

Every time I think about that bench, I'm reminded that wonder isn't something we outgrow. It's something we choose to keep.

My mother taught me that life is filled with beauty, mystery, and magic if we are willing to notice it. I believe that same sense of wonder helps us notice the meaningful moments, unexpected connections, and quiet winks that make life so much richer.

Wonder has never been something my mother searches for. It is simply the way she moves through the world.

And for that gift, I will always be grateful.