What happens when you ride across a country with nothing but time and wonder? It’s with wonder I’ve attained happiness. There’s a level of this I attest to magic, and a portion of it I would called learned behavior. When you look at things with fresh eyes as if you are seeing it for the first time; this is wonder. This is why travel has been integral to me experiencing wonder in my life. We become accustomed to what is our every day routines and often it doesn’t speak to a sense of newness living inside of us.
Here’s 3 tips to incorporate wonder into your life.
1. Travel
Sometimes travel is easy, but it can also be difficult. It costs money to travel and we have responsibilities and obligations in our daily life that can make it challenging to travel. However, you get to choose your priorities and if you make travel a priority it will happen.
A couple ways you can do it in a less expensive way is to visit friends in cities or countries where you know you can stay with them. I recently traveled to both Salt Lake City and Denmark and stayed with friends.
You can also take a staycation and book a cute or eclectic Airbnb in your own city (If you live in Mpls, my condo is a really fun Airbnb to stay at). It affords you a cheaper way of traveling in your city and still getting a sense of newness.
Also taking a quick camping trip up north or somewhere out of your city is a great idea. Camping sites are cheap and it doesn’t cost much for a one person tent and sleeping bag you can use over and over again. It brings me to the next point.
2. Nature
Getting in nature will always afford you wonder. Mother Earth has so much to offer in her beauty. The awe of the trees, forests, lakes, ocean, mountains, and sea is a definite destination of wonder.
Leave your phone at home and get outside. Find a quiet path to walk, a beautiful grouping of trees to set up your hammock, a lovely body of water to float in.
Soak up what she offers, it’s beauty incarnate and will bring wonder into your life. Even laying down in your front yard for 10 minutes and watching the clouds float by can increase your sense of wonder exponentially.
3. New Adventures
Did you know your city has free stuff happening all the time? Museum showings, music in the park, tours of parks, fun activities for kiddos, exciting adventures in caves, local festivals; all free.
Also for small amounts of money you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, bikes, visit exhibits, see local shows, and check out craft and art get togethers. Look at your local paper for ideas or visit Google and look up “free + things to do in [insert your city here]”.
There are so many things you can do free or cheap to get out of a routine and find wonder in the city you live in.
Finally, beyond all of this, be willing to wake up each morning and look at the world with new eyes. Try something new for breakfast instead of your usual, take the scenic route to work, talk to a stranger, stop to watch revelers playing music in the street, step up on low walls and walk them instead of on the sidewalk, or skip instead of walk. Creating a life of wonder is all about shifting your perspective to gratitude and newness. Be curious. Ask questions. Live with wonder. Happiness follows.
Happy Wondering, LVA-