Moments of Wonder

The holiday season has a way of amplifying life’s magic. Twinkling lights, the warmth of togetherness, and quiet moments of reflection invite us to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary. But magic isn’t just in the grand gestures of this time of year; it’s in the smallest details—a steaming cup of tea, a ray of sunlight, or even a misplaced phone. As the year winds down, I find myself reflecting on how every moment can be magical, depending on my perspective.

​There could be magic everywhere
up close and from a distance
Outside the “normal” distance.
If you hold still, breathe softly,
Wait – Pause, Anticipate,
really look.

Life IS magic
each moment
insanely brilliant,
perfectly aligned
from every which way
at once.

The morning sun
illuminates the billows
of moisture and
bits of spice blossoming
from my cup of tea
They swirl, wrap,
twirl and twist about
Moved by breath
and furnace-forced air.
Like smoke, it rises.
I feel the heat
of an alternate
reality right here.

There is magic,
even if I knew
the science, the physics,
the thought-FULL
explanation,
it is still magic.
In the end,
the ultimate Mover is
unseen - unknown.
The Mover has
humor and skill,
light and fun,
pain and purpose.

I left my phone at my Mom's yesterday.
Magic? Fluke? Accident?
Oddly timed character flaw?
Or sweet lesson from the Mover?
I experienced visceral fear,
delusional flights of negative
imagination –
worst-case scenarios,
angst, loss, emptiness.
I got to experience it all:
powerlessness, worry,
and finally acceptance,
reality, trust, humor.
Oh, and opportunity... to practice
settling down with grace
and patience,
curiosity, and faith.

What if I were to allow
each experience to be full of wonder?
MAGICAL?
No potions or incantations,
no frog’s moss or sweet grass with bat’s eye.
Those witchy tools, like meditation,
are just techniques to foster awareness – seeing.

What if we are inherently magical,
born to see the extraordinary,
but somewhere along the way,
forgotten how?
A world like Harry Potter’s--
alive, vibrant, pulsing with unseen wonder--
exists all around us. Indeed!
Curiosity, creativity, and compassion
with an open mind are all we need
to thoroughly enjoy each moment
on this Earth bound journey.

Indeed!
Simple and not easy
if you’ve never been taught.
If I fall – it’s magical.
If I forget my phone – magic!
If I choose every moment to trust – THAT’S magic.
It’s all magical, depending on my perspective.
I’ll keep eyes “peeled,”
senses on alert,
and report back directly.
Later, I’ll drive to pick up my phone…
Who knows what may come of it!?

As we step into the magic of the holiday season, I’m reminded that life offers us countless gifts—gifts of perspective, patience, and possibility. Whether it’s a forgotten phone or a shared moment with a loved one, each experience is an opportunity to embrace wonder and trust in the unknown. This holiday season, may we all carry curiosity, creativity, and compassion, seeing the magic that surrounds us not just today, but every day. After all, who knows what beauty might unfold when we simply choose to believe?

Note: I wrote this piece December 22nd and edited and posted it today. As I searched for an image, I realized I had this piece hanging upstairs; "Creative Process" by one of my favorite artists Vorja Sanchez. Check out his website and Instagram!

​Just yet another mini miracle and moment of wonder, Happy Holidays!