Rekindle the Wonder

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.
Saint Augustine

If there is anything I bring home from the Sacred Journey of Childlike Wonder (and there is a lot that I am bringing home) it is that life is too short to give in to trivialities. What matters to me is connection, and there are so many ways to connect.

Connecting with others, first and foremost, is an area that I’ve always felt needed strengthening in my life. I have never been much of an initiator. I had a friend in Toronto when I lived there who often complained that he was the only one who ever initiated our gatherings. He had hoped I would initiate more. It is true. That was our paradigm. I think back on that and the self-awareness that it brings to me now and know that I can make change in my life.

I think that stems from having been an only child (and for those of you who read and ask, “wait… don’t you have a sister?” there is another story for another time that explains it). I learned from a young age to be independent, and never felt like I was missing out on life by mostly being alone. I was one of those who was alone but not lonely.

So what does that mean now? I choose now to act when I think of someone whom I wonder about. When I wonder… that is the time to reach out. I have so many wonderful people in my life… I can do a better job of connecting.

Connecting with my artistic side is another place where I can expand my life experience. During my school years I was always doing something creative. I have painted, sculpted, acted, sung, danced… and while I settled for so long on acting and singing I have longed for a return to those other things. On the Sacred Journey, during our paint night, I remembered that it was not a difficult thing to get a canvas and paints and just paint. Does it need to result in a masterpiece? No. But it might. LOL.

I guess what is coming up for me is that I let go of things I love because I had the perfectionist in me win over. Perfection is a killer for an artist. The perfection lesson is one I am constantly relearning. I get to decide, and I do decide here and now to make a return. I choose to return to that childlike wonder, it resides in my heart and I am ready to release it more frequently again.

What is it in you that needs rekindling? It doesn’t take a journey to paradise to make it happen, just a decision. But if you need to take that journey, take it! You are in charge. You are the point of power for all that unfolds in you life. No one will make it happen for you. You are the magnificence of the entirety of the Universe!