The 'Wow' in Everything

When we travel, I am always drawn to the little people, the 2 and 3-year-old toddlers in the crowds. They are so adorable. What I notice is their sweet sense of utter curiosity, how they laugh and clap their hands when they see an airplane in the sky or a fire truck on the street. When my boys were that age we would point out every single crane or truck and say “Wow! Look at that!”. Children, I believe, are naturally mindful about the world around them. They pause, look and investigate all that surrounds them and react  with surprise, excitement and delight.

Neil Pasricha’s website is devoted to ‘1,000 awesome things”. In his TED Talk, he talks about awareness and how we should all embrace our own inner 3-year-old. Now, I’m not saying you have to clap your hands and squeal every time you drink your cafe latte,  but try bringing a moment of awareness into your day that allows you to pause and reflect on even the smallest of things that may be very routine in nature. For example,  when you drink your cup of tea or coffee, hold the cup in both of your hands, feel the temperature in your palms, inhale deeply and take in the aroma. Notice the weight of the cup in your hands and genuinely savor that first sip. 

Take a moment of gratitude and think about who made this hot drink for you. Whose energy and effort went into making it? Giving mindfulness a chance brings so many simple joys into our day when we least expect it. 

Henry Miller once said, “ The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”

Slow down, breathe fully and strive to be present

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