Wonder is a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.
When was the last time you sat in wonder? Was it taking in the view of the mountains, a fall walk in the park, or watching something beautiful happen?
The Christmas season tends to reveal that sense of awe and wonder.
One of my best friends had a Christmas when she was a child that she labeled as her “Red Coat Christmas.” It was a coat she desired because it matched one of her dolls, but her parents said it wasn’t in the budget that year. On that Christmas morning, her mom brought out a large box that she opened in anticipation.
It was the red coat. She showed that jacket off to everyone that she knew and wore it so much the seams started to fray. She cherished it because she knew the value. It was purchased with love.
As we get older, the wonder of the holiday season can get lost. We understand the value of money and feel guilty when people spend too much on a gift. We stress about picking the right gift, having the extra money for the holiday season, and entertaining a house full of guests.
But we should try to keep fostering that sense of wonder in our lives. When we see the look of pure joy on a person’s face when they receive the gift they’ve been longing for, it brings back the magic of Christmas. It’s special to be a part of that experience.
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it” Roald Dahl
Magical Moments in Business
Do you remember that feeling? Do you remember the first day at your first grown-up job? The first investor in your company? The first person who made you feel like you would make something of your future?
Talk to anyone starting their own business. You won’t be met with cynicism or regret, you will hear a person full of hope and excitement about the possibilities of their future. Over time we lose that spark. We greet failure as an old friend of whom we are most acquainted. We take fewer chances, explore fewer ideas, take more calculated risks.
Wisdom and Wonder
Where there is wisdom that comes with every turn around the sun, at times the cost of that wisdom is wonder. What if we did not have to sacrifice one for the other?
We still need to remember the joy of what we do, why we got started, and use our imagination to guide our choices. Bringing back that spark of wonder.
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” ~ E.B. White