Wandering Into Wonder

Do you ever wish you could go back to being a little kid? A time when there were so many mysterious places you had yet to visit and whimsical activities you had yet to enjoy? So many euphoric emotions ahead of you to feel for the first time? A time when your preconceived notions about things weren't tainted by so much life experience?

While there are certainly painful things many of us would NOT wish to go through again, we muddled our way through each of those pages and chapters in our lives to come out stronger and wiser in the end. But some of us allowed ourselves to become bitter or negative instead of being grateful for the lessons and newfound strength.

We sometimes permit the hard times to make us rough around the edges, and our sense of childhood curiosity and enthusiasm steadily dwindles. We stop getting excited about upcoming events because we are stressed about all the planning or preparation involved. We prepare for things that could go wrong. We have backup plans for our backup plans.

But what if we enlisted a friend or loved one to join us in downtown Woodstock on a nice Saturday with no agenda — no to-do list, just park the car and walk until something looks interesting? Become a tourist in our hometown? We might stumble upon a festival we didn't know was happening. We could possibly enjoy the best beer, cocktail, meal, dessert, or cup of coffee we've ever had. We might discover a new musician or artist we love while visiting one of the city's restaurants, breweries, or galleries we've never taken the time to check out. And what about all the parks and trails in Woodstock that we've never explored?

If we're not careful, we just might renew our sense of wonder.

"The happiest people romanticize their life because they know magic exists where they choose to find it." I don't know who said that, but I hope it inspires you to realize that you don't have to go far (or anywhere at all) to find something wonderful. Maybe just a sense of adventure and/or a shift in perspective is all that's needed.

Have a magical April,