Sometimes, I’m swept away by the mystery of things I generally take for granted. A sense that I understand absolutely nothing washes over me; a thrilling and slightly frightening feeling. I’m a science nerd, I’ve studied the mechanics of how things work. And yet… there are moments when something inside me bursts forth in amazement at seemingly simple things.
In particular, I find the emergence of new life awe inspiring. I plant a seed and it eventually produces food; real food that nourishes my body. Something I don’t have to purchase. With a little dirt, water, light and care, I can create food. I’m also enthralled by the creation of a human. A child grows inside a mother and becomes a brand new human being, someone that has never existed before.
My most recent moment of wonderment was centered on reading. I was mid-paragraph in a book by Dani Sharpio when I was suddenly, overwhelmingly grateful that I could read! How amazing is it that a jumble of scribbles on a page actually mean something!? I can explore new information, ideas and experiences through written word. Reading has literally transformed my life by providing me with information that has shaped who I am.
Tapping into childlike wonder is a way to spark creativity. When I let go of my analytical, grown-up side, something else emerges. A creature that experiences my surroundings with fresh eyes. A being that can see the stories and ideas that are floating all around me, ripe for picking.
Cultivating Sunshine 