Sometimes wonder is obvious. Tamara was instantly taken with the delight of The Stamford Cone. I mean, “Who wouldn’t be?” is my initial thought and then I realize that may not be the case. The wonder is in the perception of the person who is doing the viewing! I am sure dozens of people walk by and under this marvel on a daily basis and pay no notice to it. They come by often, perhaps daily, and other things, work or logistics or planned conversations fill their head. The marvel is there but other things distract.
Even huge and gorgeous wonders can’t compete with the noise inside our head, so what of the little ones? Do they even have a chance?
January invites us to take notice:
Millions of Miracles
by January Handl
On the way from bed to breakfast,
A million miracles await
My attention
Waking in the sleep loft
of my son’s house,
I realize I’ve slept soundly
for the first time in months
and my dream’s after glow
begins the song of the day
In my mind
As I begin to move my
body, it dawns once again:
I have complete and utter
Awe
at the biological machine
that allows me to move, express,
connect and perceive
the world we are all
Co-creating.
Down the ladder-
What an invention!
Bridges, ladders, boats,
cars, computers, teakettles,
carpets, windows, toilets…
each thread, each problem
solved or question answered
offers the next challenge or solution
Brilliant beings!
The juniper and fog have co-created
their own diamond drops to decorate
the end of each filigreed branch to greet me
on my walk to the car
A hummingbird reminds me of the
central stillness that accents
Movement and change
As I embark on a journey to the city
where my daughter waits,
cooking a feast of flavors and textures and smells
for my happy, hungry
Heart and body
The streets are full of angels and demons
embodied in the frenetic pace and density
of compacted existence- I marvel
at an elderly person, metal walker
caging and un-caging
their step by step
journey between cars,
breakfast in a bag for them,
clutched in the athritic brown digits
Of a human hand
My wonder overflows at
how each hand’s travels and travails
through life is so vastly different,
so humanly the same,
a bit of plastic catches my eye
as it tosses around on the wind
in graceful dances that
no one seems to notice
I cannot even begin to approach
The sea, the sky, the stars!
Yes! A million miracles await if we just take a moment to notice.
This week your Bliss Initiative is to notice the Wonder around you.
- While waiting in line, take a deep breath and look for something marvelous.
- Be mindful while sipping your next drink.
- While sitting at a traffic light notice the clouds or trees around you.
- Brush your teeth and marvel in how well your body supports you.
- At your next meal be aware of everything it takes to get that food to your plate.
- Listen to children laugh and play.
- Notice the technology that is commonplace but less then 2 years old.
- Notice the old technology that still works!
- Follow a bird or squirrel as it goes about it’s business.
- Look deeply at and smell the flowers.
* Photo Details: The Stamford Cone is a 14 metre high structural artwork in the shape of a cone built as a landmark feature for the headquarters building of the Swiss Banking Corporation in Stamford, Connecticut. The structure, which entirely consists of stained glass by British artist Brian Clarke, was designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and engineered by Dewhurst MacFarlane & Partners. It was completed in 1999.
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Tamara and January are here each Monday to help set the mood for the week!
Tamara Magnitsky
Tamara Magnitsky, a child of the wild blue yonder,
has been an ardent student and advocate for poetry, photography and excellence in general.
She is the mother of a 6 year old daughter and a beloved wife.
She can be found most days.
Bio written by Cary Brosius ~Tamara’s husband 🙂
January Handl
January Handl is first and always a mother, has been a preschool teacher and parent educator for 25 years. She is currently the Director/head teacher at Gazebo Park School, and lives at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. She lives simply in awe of existence.
She calls her photo “hot tub bliss” 🙂
I had to pop over to your blog because the picture was so beautiful. I need to google The Stamford Cone to find out more. Anyway, great post! I just shared an article with my family that I think you’d really like. Here’s the link: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_trick_your_brain_for_happiness
Enjoy!
Slowing down…that’s when we notice things, and can feel them more deeply. There is so much around us, and so much competing for our attention. But so often it’s those “little things” that really stop and make me rejoice, even more so that the “big” things. :o)
I LOVE this poem!!