Find the Wonder, Wherever You Are (And When You Feel Like It)

Hi. Welcome to Bloom Anywhere. I'm Gwen Moran, a writer, editor, author, and problem-solver. My goal is to share information, ideas, and resources to help you overcome obstacles, reach your goals, and find more joy in life, even when things are messy. Thanks for joining me. (If you got this from a friend, subscribe here: Bloom Anywhere.) I'd love your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Please send me an email: connect@bloomanywhere.com.

When I was a child, my family made periodic trips to visit my mother’s kin in southern coastal Maine. One of our frequent stops was Biddeford Pool. My parents would time the visits for low tide so we could explore the tide pools. In these various-sized puddles on the rocky shoreline, we’d search for starfish, sea anemones, periwinkle snails, tiny fish, and other creatures. We made our way slowly from pool to pool, stepping purposefully on the slick stones, careful not to slip or step on any sea life.

Each pool was colorful and unique. Peering into them was such a simple thing, but each discovery made us gasp with delight. Wonder.

Decades later, after being exposed to more of the world, capturing that sense of wonder felt increasingly difficult. Life’s challenges, demands, and triumphs take more time. And after traveling a bit, overlooking Paris from the Eiffel Tower, or exploring Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza, it’s easy to forget about the wonder of a simple tide pool.

And that’s really too bad.

Finding Wonder in the Everyday

Last fall, after being hospitalized with a second occurrence of pulmonary embolisms, I promised myself that I would try to infuse more wonder into my life. I thought back to a writing retreat I attended just a few months earlier. I was swimming laps in the host’s pool and was suddenly overcome by the purest feeling of joy. I was with strong, funny, talented women. At that moment, I was taking a break from the good, creative work we were doing, immersed in cool water on a perfect summer day. I was overcome with a sense of feeling so lucky to be in that moment and astonished at how perfect everything could feel, even for just a few minutes. It was, in the truest sense of the word, wonderful.

After being discharged from the hospital, I craved more of that feeling. So, I started making plans to cultivate wonder. And when I thought back to times when I felt it most, I remembered Biddeford Pool. I would search for it as I searched for starfish in the tide pools.

A funny thing happened. The more I looked, the more I found it.

I found it staring at Orion in the sky on a clear, cold night. I found it in a mocha almond turtles ice cream cone from my favorite creamery. I found it in an inexpensive oceanfront hotel room after I left the curtains open so I would be awakened by the sunrise. Last week, I found it wandering around the grounds of the astonishing BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the second-largest Hindu temple in the world, located in New Jersey, just 40 minutes from me.

I found it in heartfelt conversations. I found it in my favorite songs. I found it in how my cat can’t wait for me to settle into my spot on the couch so she can curl up on my lap and purr. That sense of joy and astonishment at the beauty, love, and joy in this world.

Please Don't Call Me Pollyanna

I do not mean to leave you with the impression that life is suddenly charmed or that I’ve become one of those toxically positive people. Let’s be real: My father is dying. I have a progressive disorder called lipedema that affects my mobility and leaves me in pain many days. My industry is being disrupted by the economy and technology, causing many layoffs and no small share of worry. Concern about loved ones. The state of the world in general. Some days, the weight of it all feels too heavy. There are days when I rebel and ruminate, refusing to search for the wonder.

Regardless, something wonderful is always there, even when it’s hard to see. Wonder doesn’t have to be big and grand. Sometimes, it hits me in the simplest moments. This life—this LIFE—we are given. Even when it’s hard, it’s so full of wonder.

As always, I’d love to hear from you: connect@bloomanywhere.com.

Bloom Drops

Journaling: Capture the wonder in your life through journaling. This freemium app called Three Good Things that is a simple way to capture gratitude daily. Or go old school and use a pen and notebook. After you do it for a while, it’s fun to look back on all the wonderful things.