December 4 Wonder.
How did you cultivate a sense of wonder this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)
Well, it’s Sunday night and I still haven’t blogged about wonder. It’s been a bit of a hectic weekend, but don’t take my lack of writing for lack of having any wonder. I gotta say that I love that the prompt has asked us how we cultivate wonder. ‘Cause I’ve sure experienced it – but what have I done to cultivate it?
Wonder, to me, is that feeling you got as a child on Christmas eve, when you went to bed, straining for the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof. Wonder is Christmas morning, when the milk and cookies have magically disappeared. Wonder is stepping foot into Disneyland, and having the magic and music of being a child unravel you. Wonder is planting a seed and actually watching it grow, day by day. Wonder is spinning and spinning and catching snowflakes on your tongue. Wonder is painting your entire office purple.
I’ve discovered something recently.
I’m a bit of a “wonder whore.” I seriously can’t get enough of it. I need it. I crave it.
I want bright red gumboots so I can jump in puddles with it.
I’m cultivating my own wonder day by day, releasing that inner child every now and then and sparkling fairy dust all over my world.
December 5 Letting Go.
What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)
This one’s a thinker. I’m fairly certain I know my answer, but I’m trying to decide if it makes me sound like an asshole. Or maybe kinda flaky? Whatever. Not my problem. Hence:
This year I’ve let go of the burden of responsibility.
Or at least I’m working on it.
I’m a people-pleaser. I spend countless hours worrying about other people’s lives. I have always felt the weight of other people’s problems, as if they are my own, feeling like I need to solve something for them. That I need to stretch further, work harder, stay later, be better, talk more, (talk less), be more, (be less). I’ve spent far too much time worrying about how my actions (or lack of actions) will affect other people, and little to no time worrying about how my actions affect me. If there’s one thing that coach training and a buttload of counseling has taught me this year, it’s that each and every person is naturally creative, resourceful and whole (thank you CTI for your wording). I can only do what feels comfortable for me – if that doesn’t work for you, then you will find a way to figure it out. Or we can work it out together. But I don’t have to fix the world, all by myself.
By letting go of that burden, I can hold on more firmly to myself.
Cheese, anyone? 