Some people think ‘wonderful’ is for others and not for them. If that is you, then you could be losing out on something really important in your life.
Some people think ‘wonderful’ is for others and not for them. If that is you, then you could be losing out on something really important in your life.
When was the last time you felt wonderful or described some/thing/one as wonderful?
This morning I heard a radio presenter wishing his audience, and me, a wonderful day. For some reason the word stuck with me.
Wonder-ful, full of wonder. What comes to your mind?
I immediately associate it with children’s eyes sparkling and open wide, marvelling at something full of wonder. It has something innocent about it.
Call me a cynic, or someone who, like you, has lived a little or a lot; who has felt pain; who is aware of our vulnerability, uncertainty and mortality. Someone who was brought up not to expect too much. Superlatives did not exist in my family’s vocabulary.
Words, feelings, expectations and entitlement to wonderful moments and experiences have never come easy to me.
You can be wonderful and sad and angry.
When difficult things have happened and continue to come into our life (illness, problems in relationships or finances, worries about the future, when death has happen or may be coming our way), then it can appear inappropriate and ridiculous to talk about wonder.
I have started to learn that this is not so.
Today, when I think of wonderful, I “wonder” whether I misunderstood. And I wonder whether I did not acknowledge what has been wonderful all along.
The more I acknowledge the nice or good that has been and remains, instead of being too focused on what once was and no longer is, or what has sadly never been or what will never be and why …
The more I leave my wounds to rest instead of rubbing away at their scabs and re-inflamming them…
If I can do that, then I can see life and myself in a different perspective.
And then I am open to entertain the possibility of wonder.
And then I feel wonder – full of wonder.
Because then I feel strong and full of possibilities – at least a little bit, at least for a while.
There is wonder about you, too.
We, you and I, we are full of wonder. And let no-one, including you, tell you otherwise.
Is it not wonderful …
- that we are still standing – despite it all?
- that we all are connected by reading these lines and thinking about them?
Why not spent some time reflecting on wonder:
- what you have achieved (instead of what you have not),
- what you can do (and not what you can’t),
- what can be (and not what can’t).
7 steps towards living in peace
We are wonderful, we have always been and we will always remain full of wonder – if we let it.
You are wonderful, despite it all and because of it all!
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Hi Karin,
This is the perfect time of year to consider wonder. As adults who lost that child’s wonder of Christmas so many years ago, we can be weary with cynicism about the ‘magic’ of Christmas and what appears to be gooey sentimentality during this season. Whether it’d during the holidays or the rest of the year, your points of looking at what we’ve achieved, what we can do, and what we can be are important. I love how you’ve framed it that “You are wonderful despite it all and because of it all.” This perspective allows for acceptance and grace. Thanks for pointing me back to wonder.
Best to You,
Connie
Hi Connie, thanks for reading and responding. It’s appreciated. Very best for you,too. Karin