For some kids this is a put down at the shear enormity of the world. For others, this is a challenge. Somehow though, we as adults loose the idea that the world is so much bigger than us. We focus internally and we think we know everything about our world.
There really is no way to know EVERYTHING about the universe and the world around us. There is only one who could know that, and He (or She/They/It depending on what you believe) isn't talking. So why do we adults stop wondering about the world around us? Why do we stop asking the big questions of who/what/when/where and most importantly why?
Because we become jaded. This is no surprise to many, if not all of us. It becomes harder and harder to surprise us because we feel like we've seen it 100 times, or it doesn't concern us. "I've got more important things to worry about", or "Get your head out of the clouds" are the types of things we've all said or heard in our lives. But when we get a glimpse of a picture of some far away place, or of the night sky lit up in all it's splendor, we marvel and wonder in a way we haven't since we were kids. Then we let that feeling slip away, because "we have more important things to worry about."
I'm wondering why doing those "grown up" things have to always be more important than indulging our sense of wonder at the world around us. There are some who realize this and travel the world and really "live". But then there are some who get stuck in the 9-5 and never question what the view of the stars looks like from Mt. Fuji at midnight. Because why should they? That doesn't concern them.
SO here is my Tip for Grownups for the day:
TIP #5-- Find something to marvel at for 5 mins every day!
Ask yourself why is the sky blue, or why is the grass green! Go to the planetarium and see the show on the universe. Find a way to learn more about something you've been curious about and just never gave yourself the time to learn. And it doesn't have to involve a trip to Mt. Fuji to see the stars at midnight. It could be just stepping out on your back porch and wondering which constellations you happen to be looking at. Or realizing on your drive home from work that the clouds look amazing in the setting sun and you pull over to spend 5 minutes to just enjoy the view. Turn off the "monkey brain" going through all of the things you need to get done once you get home or once you get to work tomorrow. Something you can do EVERYDAY is take 5 minutes to step outside, or away from your desk somehow, and just take in your environment. Is there something there you never noticed before? What does the wind REALLY feel like on your face? Are there any shapes in the clouds? What is the sunlight doing with the colors on the clouds? Find a way to take yourself out of the "monkey brain" that is telling you all of the things you need to get done and just clear your mind. It's OK if it is hard, because as adults our brains are solidified much more than children and it's harder to develop habits. But keep trying and see what you notice about the world around you!
And remember to PLAY!
