#reverb10 – day 4

December 4 – Wonder.

How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

(Author: Jeffrey Davis)

I’m rediscovering the world for someone else. I’m making sure she sees everything that I think is amazing, because I know it’ll be 1,000,000x more amazing to her. And in the process, I’m remembering just how awesome this whole “living” gig really is.

Last week, we reached the “What’s that?” phase of early childhood, except Baby M’s version is a subdued whispered, “whass ta.” We made our second visit to my hometown Monterey Bay Aquarium, and while we saw the wonder in her eyes a month prior, we heard the wonder in her voice this time around.

We’d walk up to the giant 28’ walls of glass and stare inside at what was going on. Her arm would extend, some drool would dribble onto her lower lip, and a series of “whass ta” would hurriedly come out under her breath. She’d look back at us, then look into the blue. She’d pick a fish, or a school of fish, to focus upon and act utterly amazed when she saw it pass by again. She’d just stare into the water windows and focus her eyes on all that was before her.

I rationally know it’s just a fish and we’re in an aquarium full of them. But then I stop to wonder what she’s possibly thinking about and how her brain is explaining what she is seeing. It’s then I realize how amazing it is that we’re standing in the depths of the ocean and staring eye to eye with Nemo and friends. And she doesn’t even know what a fish is or what the ocean is, but she knows it’s amazing!

The best part of life right now is that everything can be wonderous. A game of peek-a-boo, a puppet coming to life, the taste of a new food, and the feeling of rain on your cheek. I’m glad it’s ok in society for me to “play along” and act like I’m pretending to think the world is such an amazing place. But the best part is that I’m not pretending. I’m just remembering there are so many things to enjoy.

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Other readers who are playing along: Michelle at See Michelle Blog, EmilyB at A Leap Begins, Ali at His Birdie’s Nest, Koritsimou at The Pale Wisconsinite, Kelly at Glamour This!, Katie atShe Likes Ruffles, He Likes Truffles, Liz at e.louise, Nodakademic,  Kasia at Good Finking, Kate at Marsh Mellow Goodness, Lydia at Nothing Rhymes with Lydia, Jenni at Moonlight & Magnolias, EP at Oh Baby!, Jen at Living a Brighter Life, Holley at Dead Flowers, Tara at Two Wishes, Marissa at marissamakes, Kinzie at KinzieSays, Nellie at Wired, Witty and Well-Dressed and Jen at A Tale of 2 Monkeys. (am I missing you??)

If you’d like to join, just visit www.reverb10.com/participate to sign up! It’s not too late!