The fireworks were in full swing. The orchestra played a spirited version of the 1812 Overture. There was magic in the air. I'm a huge fan of fireworks. I love feeling the booms shake my body and the seeing the vibrant colors light up the sky. But on Saturday, I barely watched the firework display in Old Town Alexandria. I just couldn't take my eyes off my kids.
All three of my kids embodied wonder and awe. Their wide eyes and open mouths were a testament to the joy and excitement they were feeling.
I looked at the people around me. Many of the adults had the same expression, but others seemed unaffected. It reminded me of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein.
I remember being a teen and feeling like I was too cool to experience wonder. I felt like I knew everything. Everything! I held back my curiosity and excitement to the detriment of myself and to the annoyance of anyone who wanted to share things with me.
But when we choose to develop, we start to see the world with new eyes. We rise up from the threat of not knowing everything into a space of wonder about the things we don't understand. We begin to seek instead of hide. As we learn to author our own lives, we become more comfortable being vulnerable, being different, being ourselves.
So I would ask, how do you see the world? Are your eyes wide? Are you open to being surprised? Are you seeking?
If this is where you want to be, but you're not quite there yet, try this: Look for the miracle. As you step out of the house, challenge yourself to see something amazing. Turn it into a game. Share your wonder with your family at the dinner table. It could be as simple as noticing how the wind hits the leaves on a tree or how a bird soars for minutes without flapping its wings. If you can't spot a miracle, create one. You have an unlimited ability to bring magic into the world.
So This Happened
We work with so many interesting clients who do such amazing things that I decided to share some weekly highlights with you. Over the past week, this happened:
- We launched the Beyond RESET program that we designed with Capitol Post, an organization committed to working with veterans, military and spouses. Beyond RESET is a practicum to bring the learnings to life from our incredibly successful RESET: Workshops to Frame Your Future Missions pilot program. The three-workshop series helped participants assess and reflect on how they see the world, define their personal values and develop a personal mission statement. We'll be offering the workshops again in the fall, so let me know if you'd like us to reserve a spot for you!
- We finished up a three-piece infographic for a health organization promoting breastfeeding to state health officials.
- We conducted a brand storyline and messaging workshop for a new business. In a facilitated session with the owners, we helped them articulate the core essence of their business and captured how we'll express it to the world.
Need help finding your essence and giving it voice? Send us a note and see how we can help.