PEBBLE
The most fortunate are those who have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder.
~Abraham Maslow, shared by Jim in Tampa, FL
BOULDER
Try to be surprised by something every day. It could be something you see, hear, or read about. Stop to look at the unusual car parked at the curb, taste the new item on the cafeteria menu, actually listen to your colleague at the office. How is this different from others? What is its essence? Be open to what the world is telling you. Life is nothing more than a stream of experiences — the more widely and deeply you swim in it, the richer your life will be.
~Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi [lightly edited for length] shared by James Clear via 3-2-1 Newsletter
PONDER
So I’ve spent a lot of time and energy the last few weeks prepping and practicing for some talks I’m giving this week on depolarizing our country, our communities and ourselves. I’m looking forward to them, and I’ve also been somewhat stressed about them…I want them to be fun and also useful even though they’ll also be heavy in spots too. Grappling with all this stuff is butt-kicking work!
One morning I woke up really early and couldn’t get back to sleep, my mind spinning with ideas and concerns. I decided to get a head start on my morning stroll while also practicing a few pieces of the talk that I wanted to get “just right.” Getting outside and moving my body really helped manage the stressy stress that has been building up on my insides, and getting a chance to actually practice the talk was helpful, too.
I was already starting to feel much better, and then received a Wonder-full Surprise when I turned the corner and a wave of sweet smelling loveliness lit me right up. I spied the source: a magnificent tree in full spring bloom. I took a few deep breaths in, and a few ginormous exhales later…I was at peace. I paused long enough to capture my reaction with a 60-second video (you can watch it on TikTok, Facebook or Instagram). It was a small thing and yet it had a big impact on how my day started…and I still smile when I think of it. Wonder-full!
Please do me a favor over the next few days: keep your eyes, ears, and heart open for Wonder-full Surprises…and for goodness sake tell me about them if/when you encounter them. It’ll give me a boost, and I bet it’ll give you a boost, too.
Peace,
Paul
P.S. If you need an extra boost of Wonder you might benefit from a peek back at Ripples #962.
