Wonder

Reverb 10, December 4 – Wonder.
How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)

I definitely never set out to cultivate wonder this year, but it was there just the same. Off the bat, I can think of three things in my life that made this year especially wonder-ful.

1) Learning // We're living in Europe and we travel a fair amount. For me, travel equals learning. Beyond absorbing the specific facts in my guidebooks or on commemorative plaques, the way my understanding of history and culture shifts from cloudy to clear when I travel has given me what feels like another college degree. I know that there will always be things to learn, even when we're not scampering around Europe; the tricky part will be having the sense to honor whatever is new around me with the same expectation of wonder that I grant famous landmarks. And maybe I just stumbled upon it right there - the cultivation of wonder is the expectation of it.

2) Watching // Specifically, the way my daughter explodes with new skills and ideas, the way she demands order and routine, the way she differs from other kids her own age... Life is amazing, and watching someone grow up is very Front Row.

3) Suspending // I don't know where we will be moving next summer, but we will be moving and starting a new chapter of life. Watching the pieces fall into place - albeit slowly - is riveting.