Wonder is a feeling I don't have as often as I'd like. I find it requires a state of mind that's hard to maintain in the rush of a busy day, and they're all busy. But sometimes it sneaks up and surprises me, like when I was brushing my teeth the other day. The bathroom was full of swirling shower steam and the sun coming through the window gave it a beautiful glow. I was a little surprised that I noticed the steam, which must be there every day. Then I began to wonder why it was swirling in such a gorgeous way — was there a draft or was it my breathing? Finally it occurred to me that I should try to paint or create something swirly. It took no time to do this wondering — it was just while I was brushing after all — but the steam had started my creative juices flowing.

I think wonder is the start of any creative endeavor. "I wonder if I can do this?" "I wonder if I could express that?" There are those kinds of questions and also just the feeling, which feels so ... well, wonderful, that I want to try and capture it in some way.

So how to feel it more? How to practice being in that state of mind, ready to notice the wonder in whatever daily life brings? I think we live in a world of such sensory overload that it's easy to miss the wonder in the details. I try to take something that I might normally just blow through, like chopping veggies. I make an effort to really notice the juicy sounds, the bright colors, the scents, the feel, the taste. I find myself wondering about the places where they're grown, the climates and cultures. I look at the shapes and colors for ideas of how to present them. It becomes a game, which I hope is training me to notice everything more. I decide to really see, and it becomes a habit. That's my plan, anyway.

One of my son's favorite teachers, who is now a personal friend, is a great role model not just for the kids, but for me as well. She retired from teaching a couple of years ago, but is still a student of life and has a wealth of knowledge on so many subjects that it's surprising to find something she hasn't got some experience with. On the rare occasion when it does happen, her questions just keep coming! She approaches every new subject, challenge, craft, or home repair with an eager, inquisitive mind. She's an expert wonderer, and I've never seen her bored.

How do you stay open to wonder? Has something made you feel it lately?