It’s not a trick question; where do I find the wonders of life is a question I ask myself often. And do other people find it as easy to discover those wonders of life as I do?
Reflection is a curse of the aged, I’m afraid.
My dogs and I go for walks daily, and on those walks I observe a good number of people. Some appear to be genuinely happy. Some appear to be distracted, some worried, and some just plain unhappy. And I wonder how many of those people are tuned into the wonder of it all in their little universe? And why is it so easy for some people, like my wife Bev, to see the wonder of it all in practically everything, while other people wouldn’t see wonder if it slapped them alongside the head?
I love documentaries
I was watching a documentary about hummingbirds the other day, and I learned that a hummingbird’s wings flap upwards of eighty beats per second. Let that sink in for a moment. Blink your eyes and you’ve pretty much used up a second. Heck, really fast, blink your eyes twice. But blink them eighty times in a second? No chance, and yet a hummingbird does it every moment it is in flight.
The wonder of it all!
Now toss in this fact: a hummingbird’s heart beats around 1,000 times per minute. Compare that to your own heartbeat of 60-80 beats per minute.
The wonder of it all!
That sort of thing is all around us if we are paying attention
Maybe I’m just a nerd, but I find things like that to be fascinating, and they are there for our amazement daily if we pay attention.
Watching a YouTube video the other day of a woman who was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and she was taking shots of the obligatory vistas, and for sure they were beautiful, but she was also taking an equal number of pictures of tiny bugs she saw along the trail, and bees extracting honey from flowers, and spider webs, and I thought YES, that woman gets it, that woman is in tune with the vibrations of life all around her. Her quality of life could be seen in her smile.
Here’s something to do just for kicks
Have you ever watched a baby, or a toddler? It’s cheap entertainment, for one, but it is also absolutely remarkable how many things they intently look at, how many new things they try to experience, in a very short period of time. The world is one huge playground for them. Everything is a wonder to them. They not only show an absence of fear but they also exhibit an ingrained desire to become one with their environment. They marvel at everything they come in touch with, and it is a joyous thing to watch them.
I’m not some self-help guru preaching to the masses
There are some people who, for any of a variety of reasons, are unable to see the wonders of life in their current situation. The mentally ill, the homeless, the addicted, the abused, et al, do not rise in the morning and start looking for the wonders of life. It just does not happen for them, and it may not happen for them, ever, and that is profoundly sad. No, when I write articles like this one, I am fully aware that my words are empty and meaningless for some.
And then there are some who are just too busy with their lives, too preoccupied with the fast-paced swirling around them, don’t have the time or inclination to stop and ponder the wonders of a spider’s web, and although I find that sad, I also understand it. I’ve been there, I’ve lived that life, I get it!
No, I’m just talking to those who are so inclined. I’m talking to those who are willing and eager to see more than they have seen in the past, to experience more than they experienced in the past, who are ready to break down whatever barriers have been constructed, in the past, and venture into the world of wonder.
To answer the question posed at the very beginning of this article, where do you find the wonders of life?
Look around you! They are everywhere, and in less than a year my wife and I will climb into our new travel trailer, start out on our RV life, and improve the quality of life by totally submerging into the wonder of it all.
Addendum Our plans to do some long-distance walking in 2023 have not changed. Bev is increasing her stamina with a thirty-pound hack, and I am increasing my daily walking, from four miles per day to seven currently. I’m busy planning my route (the first half will follow the old Oregon Trail to the Mississippi River), should this become a reality, and Bev is going to take on some tough local hikes before deciding whether the Pacific Crest Trail, all 2600 miles of it, is possible for her.
Happy Trails to you all, until we meet again!
Liz, you are a nice person. Thank you for the kind words of support. I plan on living my remaining years as a positive force. There is just too much negativity in the world these days, and I don’t want to be a part of it.
Thank you always, my friend.
Bill, your positive attitude to life is infectious. The technique you have of describing your observations and then expanding upon them to draw out meaningful comments works very well. I especially appreciate your thoughtful and understanding response when you reflect on the fact that not everyone is in the right place to feel the same way.
When I marvel at nature around me, it causes me to ponder on the greater force behind it and who created such a beautiful world.
Zulma, I just assumed hummingbirds were indigenous to the UK. How sad. 🙂 They are a wonderful sign of spring and summer around here, and I love them. There is a hummingbird documentary on one of the streaming channels that is just remarkable.
When my hip was at its worst, one mile was my max. That was one short year ago. I know all about walking with a limp, and I have empathy for you, dear friend.
Thanks so much for taking the time to say a few words to your Olympia buddy.
Hi, Bill. Hope you’re well.
The first time I ever saw a hummingbird was in my uncle’s backyard. He had orchids growing there and I saw what I thought was a very unusual bee hovering around it. On closer inspection, I realised it was a hummingbird! I was so excited. I tried to take a photo but he flew off and I couldn’t find it again. That was almost 40 years ago and I haven’t seen one since. They are not indigenous in the UK so I will probably never see one again. This will always be a treasured memory for me.
How I do envy your ability to walk such long distances. There was a time I could walk five miles without breaking a sweat. Due to previous medical issues, I now walk with a limp which makes walking rather tiring. Add to that a painful knee and walking one mile is quite an achievement. Such is life. lol
Have a glorious day, Bill
Thank you Ann! Watching a young child is fascinating, is it not? I never grow tired of it, but then I don’t have to live with that young child either. LOL
A map, eh? Food for thought. I will do that as soon as I nail down the particulars. I am working on my Oregon Trail route as we speak. And Bev is making reservations this very moment for her hike around Mt. Rainier. Very exciting stuff.
Thank you Misbah! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to visit me. I laughed that you tried blinking your eyes 8 times. Thanks for participating in my life eye-blinking challenge. I hope this finds you well and enjoying life.
Thank you very much for the wonderful read, Mr. Bill. I actually tried to blink my eyes 8 times in one second and failed. Lol! Yes, there are many wonders around us, we just often ignore them or do not see them. Perhaps we are so busy that we do not take the time to live and enjoy life as we should.Thank you for reminding me that there are many things around me that are here to keep me happy and entertained. May God continue to bless you and your family. Ameen.
Have a great Monday and a wonderful week ahead!
Take care and keep smiling.
Blessings always!
Great thoughts on the wonders of life, Bill!
I watch my grandchildren, especially the youngest, often and it’s a delight to see how much he takes in – bit like the robot ‘Number Five is Alive’! Input, input.
You’re always so upbeat and it’s infectious.
I’m very interested on your trails that you’re going to follow – a map would be interesting and helpful as I can’t visualise where you’ve going and I have to learn visually!
You’re doing so well with those increasing miles – I admire your stamina and determination, both of you!
Keep safe and well!
Ann