Bringing Back The Wonder
Whether you're travelling or staying in your city, this piece will help you get your sense of wonder back through the eyes of a traveller, and in 4 simple ways.
Hi again from me :)
I’ve been in London for the past few days with my other half, spending some quality time together. This has been a welcome break for both of us, after feeling under the weather last week (me), and working long hours (him).
One of the first things I noticed was how travelling gives us a sensation of freedom and lightness. It’s necessary at times to escape from the routines we have built and take a leap into a new place.
Another aspect I love about travel is how we can get our sense of wonder back by engaging in distinct activities, seeing various places, and observing how they differ from back home.
On this trip, the orderly queueing, regular exchange of please and thank-yous, and abundance of personal space were reminiscent of my time studying here years ago.
These cultural ingredients are not easily observed in other places of the world, and I do miss them in Barcelona. Living in Spain has made me more appreciative of these nuances.
Coming down to activities: I’ve spent time in charity shops looking for second-hand reads, had a great time watching a play based on one of Agatha Christie’s famous books, and enjoyed sipping tea in quaint tearooms.
Oh, and I’ve appreciated the confluence of word pun, marvelled at intelligently-crafted copy, and laughed at silly ads plastered on buses and placards (because I’m a writer after all).
Below is a click of a thought of the day at Piccadilly station. I’ve only seen these quotes shared on Instagram before, and seeing one in person made me want to share it with you :)
What a cool way of saying ‘be conscious of the energy you bring into a space’, right? I certainly smiled when reading it, thinking of the energetic exchanges we have with others, without even uttering a word.
Few of us are aware of how that same energy affects our experience of life in general. When we walk into a new place/set foot in a new country with a mindset of ‘let’s see the good things this place will bring’, we are often met with excitement and intrinsic rewards. Things like memorable conversations with or an act of kindness by a total stranger fall into that category, for example.
What if you can’t leave your city? What if travelling to a new place isn’t in the cards at the moment? That’s perfectly fine too! We needn’t travel far and wide to experience the new. Here are 4 things you can do to reestablish your sense of wonder without travelling:
Walk around your city in areas you haven’t explored yet: Do this alone or with a friend, and pause regularly to take in the sights. Ask the other person what they’re seeing, and share what you saw with them. It may surprise you how someone else perceives the exact same thing.
Do something you wouldn’t usually do: Change your workstation at home, change desks at the office, or work in a different café for a day or two if that’s your thing. Observe the differences in menu, and the crowd that comes in. What about seating and lighting, do the changes in these affect you as well? Take note of them, as you might find a new treasured haunt this way :)
Swap your favourite mug or glass for another one: Focus on how it feels in your hands while you sip your drink. Does it affect what you drink?
You can also swap your beloved sweater for one that’s been waiting to be worn: Clothing can entirely change an experience because of the way it feels against our skin (ask anyone who’s ever worn a scratchyyyy sweater before, haha).
Look out of a different window from your home or office: This can help you notice and appreciate things you never have before.
In sum, perspective and wonder go together like milk and cookies. Change your perspective to experience the new, and be ready to fill yourself with childlike wonder.
I felt this sense of wonder last week, before leaving Barcelona. I was walking around in an unknown neighbourhood with a friend, and saw cute places to hang out in. But what caught my attention was the wall mural below, painted by a local artist.
I stopped in my tracks to look at this piece of art. Up until then, we were chatting away, paying little attention to our surroundings. The little girl’s smile took me back to my time in school. I could feel how it was to walk around without a tooth, and be okay with it.
I could laugh and play in a carefree manner, knowing that I, just like others my age, was imperfect. I could rest assured my tooth would grow back sometime soon, despite seeing the gap in my smile each day in the mirror.
I deeply felt that vulnerability combined with reassurance and innocence. My sense of wonder was rekindled in that moment itself, without leaving the parameters of Barcelona.
I walked back home with gratitude, feeling like I’d discovered another one of my city’s hidden stories. All because I’d been exposed to a piece of art which represented not only my childhood but that of any child on earth.
That toothless child was once you, and once me. Tomorrow it will be someone else. In happiness, in sadness, and no matter where we are in the world, this vulnerable childhood experience unites us as human beings. Why not stop for a moment and marvel at its preciousness?
Similarly: there are many things in adulthood that unite us. If only we could take a moment from our walks, lift our heads up from the cellphone/laptop screen, and look out of the window or around us.
I hope you take a few moments this week to marvel in the visual and musical art we are gifted by (street) artists, and enjoy the ride they take you on with their work.
The world is outside of that little chamber known as our head. It hosts a precious organ that will thank you in multiple ways for allowing it to experience wonder. And not being able to leave your city doesn’t mean you have to lose out on it.
Happy travelling :)
So beautiful. You need to join me on more trips :P
wonderful, beatiful, insightful reflections on the small and big things in life. Thank you Raksha once again for being 🙏