I Wonder Where the Wonder Went
by: Kevin Eikenberry
I was a fifth grader the first time I flew on a commercial
flight. I remember being amazed that I could get all the soft
drinks I wanted for free. I remember the wonder of looking out
at the clouds and the topography far below. I remember watching
us land. The entire thing was a great adventure and I was full
of wonder.
In college, as I flew once in awhile, I always got a window
seat - I wanted to be able to watch the ground pass below me.
The wonderment of it all - the patterns and beauty of looking
out the window was overwhelming. Yes, I would sometimes read or
do something else, but much of the flight I would sit and stare
and be in wonder of it all.
Soon after I started working, I found myself flying a bit more,
and it became clear that during my business life that I would
fly. I mentioned once to my Mom, who loves to fly, that I'd never
lose that great feeling that an airplane flight brings - and that
I would always get window seats.
Somewhere along the way from flying once every couple months
to flying 100,000 miles per year I moved to the aisle. I lost
the wonder of it all. Last week, I had a window seat and stopped
working or reading long enough to spend some time looking out
the window. Today, as I write this, I have just finished 20 minutes
of window gazing. Some of the wonder is back! There are many things
in our lives that we once considered wonderful (full of wonder).
Many of those things we now take for granted. All of this makes
me wonder, where the wonder has gone.
Where's the Wonder?
I believe seeing the wonder in things around us is one of the
ways we make our lives more meaningful and enjoyable. This is
one of the reasons we go on vacations. Yes, some people's vacations
consist of little more than a beach (which can be wonderful in
many ways!). But many more people take time to learn new things
on vacations, by going to museums and art galleries. Many of us
travel to exotic places to marvel at sites, and cultures and foods.
Wonder plays a big part in the allure of these trips and the satisfaction
gained from the experiences.
You may be thinking, is wonder really such a big deal? I would
say a resounding yes! Why? Think about it, the absence of wonder,
is often called boredom, or worse, cynicism. These are not things
that people aspire to!
While we can all certainly experience wonder in new things
- new locations, new experiences, new books, new ideas, I believe
I found an important key to a more enjoyable life outside the
plane window. That key is to add more wonder to life by re-capturing
past wonder, and finding new wonder in the things I do each day.
Re-discovering Wonder
There are several things we can do to add to the wonder in
our lives - to make our lives more wonder-full.
1. Look at things with fresh eyes. Think about things that
have become habit for you. The next time you do them, do them
as if you were a beginner again. Start with your drive or commute
to work. Make it an exercise in finding wonder. For example, perhaps
you go by a school on your way. Spend some time thinking about
things from your kidhood days in school. Then try this "fresh-eyed"
approach to other routine tasks.
2. Make a list of things you found wonderful at different stages
in your life. If you write a journal do it there. If not, make
these lists instead of watching TV one evening. Once you have
the list, spend some time reveling in those wonders. Think too
about how you could re-experience those things again.
3. Make a list of wonders you find each day or week. Again,
a great journaling task, or a great routine to add to your planning
for a new week.
4. Plan a mini-vacation or a day trip to someplace wonderful
for you. I grew up on a farm, so a drive in the country in spring
or fall is particularly helpful in restoring my sense of wonder
in the growing process. Others might find your mini day to be
boring - help them see your wonder - and in turn you will experience
your own at a deeper level. Then go with them when they try to
recapture their own.
5. Go to an old event, focused on different things. The next
time you go to a ball game, focus less on the action, and more
on the spectators, or vice versa. Go shopping and shop for something
entirely different than you usually would. You get the idea.
These are just a few ideas to help you re-infuse your life
with wonder. This idea is really taking hold in my life, in small
ways each day is more wonder-full and more meaningful as well.
I believe when you choose to rediscover your wonder, you'll
benefit in the same ways.
You know, the Mississippi River is an awesome sight from 31,000
feet.
About The Author: Kevin Eikenberry is the Chief Potential
Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (KevinEikenberry.com) and
author of Vantagepoints on Learning and Life. To read more stories
like the one above or order your copy of the book visit http://www.vantagepoints.net or contact Kevin
at (317) 387-1424 or toll free 888.LEARNER.
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