Through the Eyes of Wonder
May 28, 2010 by Carla Cummins Thomas
Filed under A-ha! Space, Guest Space
I am thrilled to welcome Carla Cummins Thomas aka Chania Girl as our guest writer this week! More about Carla below.
When I was a little girl, I believed in princes and princesses, fairies and fairy godmothers, spells and enchantments. I dreamed of the day I would sprout wings (and magical powers too) and become one of Sleeping Beauty’s protective godmothers, flying out into the world, spreading light and color with just the tip of my wand.
I marveled at things I did not understand: Where did lightning come from? How did people talk to me on the telephone if they weren’t in the telephone? And I delighted in little things: bees on leaves of clover, ladybugs on my legs, strawberries freshly picked from our back garden. It was a long time before I could let go of Santa Claus.
But somewhere along the way I did. And I learned where lightning came from, too, and how people could talk to me on the telephone without being inside it. I stopped watching the bees on the clover, was no longer visited by ladybugs on my legs, and the strawberries I ate were now “fresh-picked” from the supermarket … bought on special with a can of Redi-Whip.
When did my wonder leave me? And why did it have to go? These are the questions that tease at me as I sit before my computer on a spring afternoon in Crete. They flit about like the bees and butterflies of long ago and, just as I think I have an answer for them, they’re gone again, leaving me with my net, empty-handed.
It occurs to me that part of my regaining of wonder has everything to do with my learning to see the world again. It also occurs to me that the kind of seeing that might be asked of me is not going to be the kind I do every day (and have been doing every day for far too long).
So what do I do? How do I get my wonder back? How do I learn to see with fresh eyes? Here are some ideas that have come to me. You might like them, too.
1. Lose track of time. The kind of play I did when I was small was timeless in the truest sense of the word: an hour could pass in a moment, a minute could feel like an eternity. The only clock I remember following as a child was the clock of, “The sun’s going down, it will be time to eat soon.” But as an adult, I find my days sawed into thirty-minute logs, each piece stacked tightly against the next one. No wiggle room whatsoever. Certainly no time to stop and wonder at the miracles that surely are, must be, taking place around me. And so I now reason with myself, “Maybe these logs would do better as a fort. Maybe it’s time to ditch the schedule, trash the clock … erm, for a little bit, anyways.” How might you lose track of time?
2. Forget to do my chores. When I was young, I did my best playing when there were no obligations and nothing expected of me. With no sense of responsibility, I could completely lose myself in the game, in the chase, in the exploring … or just sit lost in a daydream (preferably while also sitting in a tree). My grown-up self says she wants to do this, too. “When can we do this?” she asks, tugging at my shirt sleeve. Hmmm … maybe it is time for a day off, without any duties or obligations whatsoever. Better still, maybe it’s time for a holiday? If I gave you the gift of time and freedom, what would you do with it? I think I see my To-Do list getting shoved into a drawer for a while.
3. Run away from home. I wandered a lot as a child, far and often … because you can’t explore unless you go somewhere you’ve never been before. My life has gotten far too predictable lately. I travel the same roads and the same paths day in and day out. I eat at the same restaurants and drink coffee at the same cafes. The wheels on the bus go round and round … and I’m not getting anywhere. It is no wonder my eyes have become dull to the world around me: they’re just flat-out bored. It’s time to actually see something new—something I’ve never seen before. It’s time to leave home. Where should I go? Where would you go? What places do you still have that you want to explore?
4. Believe in magic. Even though it’s too late for me to go back to believing in Santa, there are still magical and wonderful things that happen in the world. Some of them can be found in fairy tales (I love a good read), but others happen every day … from people just like you and me. There’s also the simple joy that remains to be had in watching an honest-to-goodness magician work his or her sleight-of-hand and amaze us all. I found some of these magicians the other day on YouTube. Where do you find magic?
5. Wish upon a star. I can’t remember the last time that I lay on the grass and looked up at the sky, making shapes in the clouds, making wishes on stars. When I was young, the act of doing this would sometimes make me dizzy. “The Universe is so HUGE,” I would think … and then get scared that I might just fall off the earth and into infinity. It was terrifying, I tell you. I simply could not fathom what prevented this from happening. But maybe tonight I will take my blanket and go up to the roof, spread my wings and gaze at the stars. To look beyond myself to something higher and greater than me, that will make me feel very small indeed, and that’s probably the best place to begin for changing my perspective. When was the last time you stargazed?
Photo Source: Light, God’s eldest daughter by hlkljgk
ABOUT OUR GUEST AUTHOR
Carla Cummins Thomas is “Chania Girl” at her own little blogling, Living Happiness, a personal blog that focuses on finding joy in the here and now.
An EFL teacher and an online grammar and writing instructor for the University of Maryland’s University College program, Carla left her corporate job in the States five years ago to pursue her dreams, believing that the only regrets in life are the risks not taken.
When she is not blogging (or explaining the difference between its and it’s), Carla is enjoying living on a Cretan hillside with her (new) gorilla of a husband, several wandering cats, and crazy lovely neighbours who are slowly but surely teaching her Greek: “Would you like a straw?” “Yes, I would like some corn.”
Carla would love for you to follow her and Living Happiness on Facebook or on Twitter.
Carla, what a lovely article!
Like you, I also began to realise that the “wonder” of everything had left my life, lost somewhere in the hustle and bustle of day to day living.
I now love to lose track of time gardening, or cooking, or reading a book, or browsing through bookstores, or talking to my children, or patting my cats…and yes, the chores are forgotten many a day. But I can do them, when the important matter of throwing a ball for my dog to chase has been taken care of.
I have no desire to run away from home right now. Actually, I ran back to home, having spent way too much time away from my special haven, doing the things that society claimed I should be doing. Now, I’m home. And seeing the magic in every new day, savouring moments too precious to let slip by unnoticed.
And as for wishing upon a star, I have remembered something that I knew as a child…by wishing and hoping, we really can make our dreams come true!
Keep chasing your dreams, Carla, and sharing your won special magic. :)
Ha, ha…that last line should read “sharing your own special magic”. (The typo gave me the chance to emphasise that point). :)
Wonderful post, Chania Girl! It’s so great to see you over here on this site — and to be introduced to this new and wonderful website. I’ve never been here before and I love it! I’m glad you posted here!
Hi, Joanna. Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely comment and sharing your own story of how you’ve learned to bring wonder back into your life. Isn’t it “wonderful” when you finally realize, “Hey, those dishes can get washed any time, but this particular moment won’t come again”? Throwing a ball for your dog absolutely takes preeminence! :) It’s right up there with me going outside and watching the sheep who come to graze in the lot behind our backyard!
Your comment about running back to home reminded me a bit of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. If what we’re looking for can’t be found there, we may never find it elsewhere. I love that you’ve been able to discover the sanctuary that home is. For me, I spend a lot of time working from home, so I itch to explore, even if it’s just a day trip somewhere. Actually, this is all I can usually afford anyway. ;)
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and I hope you too will continue to lay claim to the magic that fills your own world each and every day. x
Hi there, PP! It’s so lovely to see you here today: thank you for visiting. :)
Yes, isn’t The Calm Space lovely? I think Karen has done a marvelous job of truly making this a spa for the mind. Seriously, every time I visit here, I feel soothed and calmed and sigh a mental “Aaaah.” How great is that?
Carla, Lovely to see your bright happy wisdom adorning another blog. And thank you for tweeting about it and helping me discover this gem. I do love calm and seek it out when I can despite my go-go personality. I guess I need it. Keeping it childlike is key.
When I’m indoors too long, I can get lost in the computer or the items on my to-do list, but when I’m outside, I get straightened out in a hurry. There’s something about being outdoors that automatically turns me into a timeless drifter. When you mentioned a bee on clover, I thought, “Hey, I just watched a big fat bumblebee on a clover blossom yesterday!” I’m also a stargazer and a cloud watcher. I can spend hour after hour by the water, walking through the neighborhood, or just sitting, and never grow tired of any of it. By doing ‘nothing’ I end up feeling complete.
I loved this post, Carla! Remaining childlike is something I really try to hold on to and your ideas here are so perfectly perfect. Here’s to magic, wishes, and being old enough to appreciate it all now. So nice to see your words here and it looks like a great place. I am eager to explore here with a sense of wonder! :)
Carla,
What a beautiful piece of writing! It truly came from the heart and I felt it in mine.
Keeping our child like wonder alive is vital to keeping our heart’s open when we’re adults. As you say it’s too easy to fall into a rut with our adult routines and little windows of time in our very busy schedules.
Children naturally gravitate toward what ever captivates their attention and imaginations at each moment of the day. We, on the other hand, stifle our natural inclinations to explore this or fully follow a day dream to it’s end by pushing it aside in favor of sticking to our schedules and busy-work.
Is it any wonder we’re all attracted to, and want to hug and kiss a little child when they’re around? They exude the the wonder and limitless possibilities of the Universe in their vibration – while we on the other hand have closed ourselves off to this vibration by pinning ourselves to these rigorous schedules.
You’re post makes the point brilliantly – let go of the adult need to control always make things happen. See the world as you did when you were a child and you may very well be surprised by how easily your attract all that you were trying so desperately to create with the adult mindset.
Hi, Katie. I’m happy you popped over here today. I find Karen’s The Calm Space just that: truly calming. Thank you for your encouragement and support.
Karen — Thanks for sharing Carla. I visit her site frequently and now I have a new site to visit. I love the “look” of your site — it is very calming:~)
Carla — This is a wonder post, perfect for reminding me that my child still lives inside me…I just have to remember to invite her to play and then play by her rules:~)
Your suggestions were excellent. One way I stay in touch with my “wonder” is through photography. I’m not a technical photographer, I just love taking pictures. Because of this, I notice things more — a butterfly sitting on a flower, how the light changes after a rainstorm, the way my cat sleeps with such abandon — to me these are things of wonder. I didn’t notice them as much until I started photography. It’s made me look at my world again with wonder:~)
Great post, Carla!!!
Hi Carla
I think we all just get caught up in everyday life with always something to do whether it be taking the kids to sport, cleaning the house, or going to work, that we keep the pattern going because that is what we are used to and do not have the courage to change.
There are somethings that cannot be put off, but starting this weekend I will try to organise one of those days to be a day of going with the flow and just be with me, or with the kids playing games. If I plan ahead, then I can spread the chores across the coming week so that I won’t feel like I have to do something.
TO ALL: Oh, wow! Let me say thank you to all of you for stopping by here today and leaving such beautiful comments. I feel so blessed to be a part of this online community!
I am also doubly glad that this allows some of you to become familiar with Karen’s truly calming site. I drop by here every week for the timely and soothing articles she (and her contributors) posts It will be good to see even more familiar faces here. :)
@Jean: Hi, lovely lady Jean. It was great to see you here, and I’m delighted that this post spoke to you. Your comment rang true with me!
“I can spend hour after hour by the water, walking through the neighborhood, or just sitting, and never grow tired of any of it. By doing ‘nothing’ I end up feeling complete.
I am the same way! And there is something that being out of doors always does for me; it opens up my soul and my vision and lets the breeze of nature blow through my mind and blow away the cobwebs. (You know, I wanted to put another bullet in the post about playing outside, but I was watching my word count and it would have been too long :( ).
Next time I am sitting and doing nothing, I will think of you. :)
@Clearly Composed: Hi, CC! I hope you’ve now been able to explore Karen’s lovely site and find some true soothing nuggets of pure gold to take with you. I love it here!
Thank you for popping over today. So glad you enjoyed the post. (“Perfectly perfect” made me blush.)
I will toast with you magic, wishes, and being old enough to appreciate it. As the Greeks say, “Yia mas!” :D
@Angela: Hi, Angela. It brought me much joy to see you here today and read your truly beautiful comment: there were so many expressions of truth there, Truth with a capital “T”.
It is so easy to forget, as you put it, the wonder and limitless possibilities of the Universe because we get so used to our four walls, whether those four walls be time (schedules, appointments, routines) or space (car, cottage, cubicle). I think this is why, when I most need to break free and let myself go, I head outside. Like Jean said, “there’s something about being outdoors that turns me into a timeless drifter.” :)
Thank you for being here today. :)
@Sara: Hi, Sara. I loved reading your comment, especially what you shared about your photography and how it opens up your very own eyes of wonder. I completely get that! :)
When you are looking through that lens, how could you not be more aware, more observant of your surroundings? And, as a result, how could you not then be more attuned to seeing things you don’t usually see, more open to seeing something new? Even something “old” takes on a “new”-ness when you look at it in this way.
I’m so glad you shared this. Thank you for visiting me here today. And, please, please do keep sharing your photos with us on your lovely site.
@Rene: Hi, Rene. I am so glad to “meet” you and am happy that you enjoyed this post. I think you’re spot-on saying that some things can’t be put off, but that maybe with some planning you can have a day for you. This was actually quite large in my mind when I was writing that portion of the post because, truth is, to get true “me”-days in my own life, I sometimes really have to plan them. For example, my husband and I really like to go with the flow at the weekends and not feel stressed with commitments, so in order to ensure that, there is a lot that I do during the week to make sure that happens … and sometimes this does add a bit more to my plate on the weekdays. Still, it’s so worth it.
I hope you’re able to get your me-day or to at least take some time off from the to-do list to play with the kids. I will tell you, some of my fondest memories of my childhood are of my mom and us kids in the backyard playing tag and hide-and-seek until the sun went down. Do it! ;)
Wonder – for me – is about opening… I think we can find it in the most unfamiliar places (and the familiar) if we are open to seeing it. I live with a kid – and wonder is a part of my everyday life… but it doesn’t come from just her but form the people around us and nature… and as long as I can keep my mind from chasing a few hundred different topics at once… (sigh) it is right there waiting for me… wonder that is.
I leave breaking up the regular routes and the normal cafes to do something different… I think it helps me focus on the moment more than not.
Lovely post Carla!
Hi Carla,
What a beautiful piece of writing! We can all relate to every word and idea you have shared. Yes we do need to take the opportunity to simply stop and look at our world with fresh eyes.
Your writing reinforces to me how precious childhood is. It reminds me to cherish these years and each day with my children.
Best wishes x
@The Exception: Hi, TE. It was great to see you with me over here at Karen’s page. As always, I enjoyed the further insights you shared into what wonder means to you and how you are able to find more of those “wonder”-ful moments in your own life. I also really liked this sentiment – “as long as I can keep my mind from chasing a few hundred different topics at once… (sigh)” – because I could totally relate to it! Wrong kind of chase going on there, yeah? ;)
Thank you for your words.
@Stephanie: Hi, Stephanie. I am so happy to “meet” you here. Thank you for reading my post and responding so kindly: I’m delighted you enjoyed it. I think you and other moms that I know have a beautiful advantage in accessing the world of wonder through your children, something that perhaps isn’t always as easy (at least for me) when I do not have little people around me every day seeing the world in such a way. It does help that I teach high school students: I think they keep me young at heart. But the wonder of a five-, six-, seven-year old is such a very different thing. Wouldn’t you agree?
I love this post! It is essential to find that wonder and live in it. I love that you point the magic around us “there are still magical and wonderful things that happen in the world. Some of them can be found in fairy tales (I love a good read), but others happen every day … from people just like you and me.”
Carla, Thank you for leading me to this blog – it’s quite wonderful!
Great post!! I think many wonder where their “wonder” went. Your tips are great. Have a wondrous day!
I hate to say this, but I’m not sure one can truly go back to the way one was as a child. A little bit of wonder is lost with each passing year.
@Aileen: Hi, Aileen. Isn’t Karen’s place a beautiful online oasis? I’m glad that I’ve been able to lead you and several others here. Thank you for visiting me and for your kind words about the post. Wishing you a day filled with magic (of all kinds).
@Mark: Mark! Hi! I’m so happy to see you over here at Karen’s lovely place. Thank you for your visit and for your comment: I’m really glad you enjoyed the post! :)
@Vered: Sadly, I think it’s true, too: it IS more difficult to preserve this wonder as we grow. Nonetheless, the optimist in me doesn’t believe that all wonder has to be lost. Childlike wonder, maybe. But pure-D wonder? Nah. I find in my own life that the MORE I learn about something, often the MORE wonderful it becomes. The Universe is an amazing, beautiful thing.
Hello, lovely Carla! I’m soooo pleased Káren decided to re-run this article. It is one of my own all time favourites also.
I sent you quite a lengthy comment last time around. What I didn’t say at that time was that I simply love and adore the photo of the little angel in the photo! Isn’t that just the most precious little face? :D
@Joanne: Thank you so much, Joanne. It was lovely to see you here today. Why do I feel like it’s been eons? :P I hope all is well with you. x