December 4: How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?
It may seem hokey but I try to cultivate a sense of wonder in my life and the people’s lives around me every day. It’s what this blog is about. On the surface it may seem sweet and full of saccharinity to the Nth degree but when you seriously look at the world, our lives are tough. Most of us spend our time battling with problems and hearing about the far greater problems of those in need around the world. Life in its everyday normalcy is a freakin hard mess yet despite all that, finding a sense of wonder in the everyday is sometimes the only thing that may keep us going.
The simple things in life that can bring you out of your world of problems for a moment and give you that little stroke of happiness are why we live our lives. Simple things like late night giggles, stringing fairy lights across the mantel, baking double chocolate chip cookies and reading magazines and inspirational blogs are the pick me ups that create wonder in our everyday lives.
We all do these simple things to feel the joy for moments in our otherwise difficult days. I could tell you that 2010 has been pretty rough for me but rather than bore you with that, I will say that my sense of wonder is packed to the brim with Christmas sparkles and the smell of cinnamon. Christmas will not live up to my usual high expectations this year and I’m OK with that because despite it all, I’m still creating that world that has been mine every December for the past 34 years -the same December that my mother created for us as kids.
Creating a sense of wonder in my life and the lives of my loved ones is my whole aim in this world. I don’t care if that seems corny and overly sentimental. It’s who I am and I’ll likely never change.
*Check out Reverb 10 to find out why I wrote this*
this is such a lovely post. i’m doing reverb as well and i’m still trying to answer this question for myself…..
Thanks Kay :)
I will check out your blog. :)
I see the world in wonder like you~ It is the artistic view of little things, simply pleasures and an appreciation for the beauty in everyday and finding it!
Nice to meet you; I’m doing reverb10, too~
Thanks for stopping by, Ellen.
Oh, is that Vancouver getting ready for us. How exciting!!! I will eat some christmas mangoes for you.
Gxx
Not corny or over-sentimental at all. May we all seek WONDER in our every day. xo
Amanda,
This is a lovely post, I just read it aloud to my roommate too, I find it so true for myself and others around me. Beautiful photography, happy winter!
Serinissima, yes Vancouver will most certainly be wintery for you when you visit. The snow has left again for now but I think it will be back. I see lots of it on the mountains right now.
Meghan…you always write the loveliest comments. :)
Genevieve, that means a lot to me that you took the time to read it aloud to your room mate. Thank you!
not hokey or not overly sentimental!
I read your blog daily because you actually do what you say you want to do and that is create that sense of wonder and peace. Coming to your blog is like a small touchstone to remind me (when things do feel a little tough) that there is so beauty in our world if we look for it. I’m so glad you remind us of that. I’m sure it inspires each one of us to continue doing the same for those around us. Thank you.
I hope you have a wonderful Vancouver Christmas.
Beautiful post Amanda – it really spoke to me. Especially when you mentioned doing “simple things to feel the joy for moments in our otherwise difficult days”. I’m one of those bloggers who tends not to delve to deeply into what is going on in my personal life, in favour of taking photos, making handmade items, keeping the dialogue brief etc. Sometimes I think I should be revealing more of what is REALLY going on beyond the lovely distractions. And there’s plenty. Problem is, I have a tendency to spiral or stew over something – I can’t just put it out there and move on. I also have a responsibility to our young daughter, to make life positive and interesting for her… so these days I steer towards wonderful instead.
Thank you Leeanne.
Paula, I think there are blogs out there for all kinds of reasons. I’m like you and I think if I did speak about all the problems of my life that it would be a bad spiral of never ending woe! And really… who wants to read that? I think there’s definitely a time and place for it within context of your writing but I also think that we should acknowledge that life isn’t all pretty pictures and wish lists.
I think blogs are a great form of escape just like the movies or reading a good book. However, I think we’d be silly to assume that life is perfect for any blogger or writer, no matter how pretty and perfect their blog may seem.
I salute you for striving to make your daughter’s life interesting and positive. Thanks for your comments. I greatly appreciate them. :)
Wonderful! so magic!
and yes, I have had several blogs (that do not exist anymore , but I printed them to have them) and they were always like kind of photo albums: you only keep there the good moments somehow.
xoxo
I think your aim is spot on, and far from corny. It’s a lovely goal for a life well lived.
- the perfect (argentine) tango, where everything is improvised and led by the man, but it still sometimes feels like we’re one body, communicating almost only with our thoughts.
- teaching my piano students to understand and watch them become little teachers to themselves.
- blogging things that are sweet and full of saccharinity yet so, so important: being part of this blogging community with thousands of women who share the good things in life makes me proud!
amanda, i sincerely hope that your 2011 won’t be so rough. for what it’s worth: your brilliant writing always makes me think, and your photography is beautiful –
hugs, t