Cultivate Happiness by Being in Wonder & Enjoying Life’s Little Moments

Have you seen the light and wonder in a child’s eyes when they are experiencing something new? One time I was visiting my nieces and nephews and I heard shrieking from the garden, so I went out to see what all the ruckus was about.

My niece, Jerusha, 7 years old and nephew, Tor, who was 5, were taking turns holding an earthworm and as it wiggled in their hands, they were shrieking with excitement. As I looked down at the earthworm, I almost said, “It’s just an earthworm,” but I bit my tongue. As I saw their delight and intensity, I wondered, what would it be like to see the worm through their eyes?

As I thought of that, I saw a whole new dimension for the earthworm, the pulsating veins on its sides changing colors. I asked if I could hold the worm, and Jerusha plopped it into my hand. As she did, the worm twisted and wiggled, and I could feel it’s wetness and coldness squirming against my hand. I focused on the sensation of it, on the feel of its squirming and the excitement that this little pink line of flesh that was alive wiggling in the palm of my hand.

For a few magical moments, the three of us were enthralled with the squirmy pink worm. If I had said, “It’s just an earthworm” I would have killed the moment, and I would have missed out on experiencing the magic with them.

As adults it seems that we let the newness and magic of life fade. But all we need to bring back that wonder of life is to be curious.

How much in life do we take for granted because it is familiar? Even if you’ve seen it a hundred times, what is new about this time?

How much in our lives have we taken for granted? How much in our lives have we stopped exploring or being open to new moments or new experiences because we think we know something?

What aliveness can you bring to your life now by just being curious?

What if you were to view the people in your life with curiosity, who are they now in this moment?

How much of our eating habits are compensation for finding the spark of life that we’ve forgotten?