The magic of the ordinary

My goodness, how I love the wind!

It was only this summer that I discovered the powerful personal energy sources that wind and water can be. Today, the wind quite literally urged me outdoors. My fellow traveler was Oskar, my little adventurer at just 5 years old. Prolonged indoor confinement makes him restless and irritable, but the outdoors transform him into a carefree spirit. Rain and wind can't keep him indoors. Today, he insisted on taking his small backpack, secretly dreaming of a larger one, complete with camping gear. Along the way, we shared a homemade waffle, kicked scattered leaves, walked through small puddles, and disposed of litter in a trash bin. Oskar was particularly intrigued by a drill bit and a broken lighter, but we lingered the longest on the platform of our village's small train station. His curiosity knew no bounds: the tracks, the signals, the track switches, ... . I didn't have all the answers, but it didn't bother him. It was there that he took my hand, only to release it when we got home.

I thrive when those around me are thriving.

Oskar's unprejudiced perspective, his ability to appreciate without immediately judging or needing to understand, holds immeasurable value for me. Wonder goes hand in hand with surrender, with breaking free from fixed thought patterns in the present as well as breaking free from the desire for control and grip in the future. Wonder is the courage to break away from established routines, which may be comfortable and safe but can keep you from what truly matters.

Comfort limits possibilities

In the magic of the ordinary, the walk and talk with my son, I discover what truly matters: giving attention to our Being Human, creating space for development, and exploring possibilities and potential. As a professional, it sounds sparkling and ambitious to aim for the greatest impact, but my aspiration is not always about achieving grand impact in regard to size. Personally, I find more satisfaction in what Joanna Macy defines as 'Widening Circles of Self': 'when we identify with something larger than ourselves, whether that's our family, a circle of friends, a team, or a community, it becomes a part of who we are.' (...) When people lose their sense of belonging to larger circles, they lose not only the motivation to act for their communities and environment but also valuable sources of support and resilience. Personal well-being, community well-being and planetary well-being are linked to the way we view our self.'

So, I am grateful to my son for the many unsolicited lessons he imparts to me. Periodically, I jot down what and who I'm thankful for, sometimes in the form of mundane, trivial things. The magic of the ordinary. My son has rightfully earned his place in my 'Booklet of Gratitude'.