“If we could see the world through the eyes of a child, we would see the magic in everything.” ~ Chee Vai Tang
How very true is this quote from Chee Vai Tang?
Children see wonder in the everyday – at what point do we lose that thrill? That ability to look at something and see how fantastical and special it is without having any preconceptions it and without the baggage that we accrue in life which colours our perception of things?
Do you still experience that unexpected joy occasionally? That sense of being in awe of the intricacy or beauty of something in nature, something that maybe you see every day but that one day you notice in a different way? Really notice, so that for the first time you are struck by the colour, or the way that it is shaped or the way that it feels?
Often as adults we are so caught up in the often mundane issues that are part of our day that we stop noticing the beauty around us. We walk or rush past things without looking, we are so focused on the issue in front of us that we forget to look around and take notice of our surroundings or the people who inhabit them. My gran used to call it stopping to smell the roses. She used to say that life passes by so fast that it’s important to stop and smell the roses along the way; to take notice of the people and the environment around us so that we can learn to appreciate them more. In learning to appreciate them more, we in turn generate appreciation back. The people we are kind to find it difficult not to reciprocate; the nature we care for sticks around to give us even more pleasure.
So when was the last time that you took a breath, stopped to notice what is around you and tried to recapture the thrill and excitement of seeing or noticing those things for the time?
If you are feeling anxious about the future, worried about work or about the changing situation or simply want to talk to someone our chaplains are always willing to listen. You can find them on Mondays and Wednesdays in the outdoor areas near the duck pond and the woodshed weather permitting. In the meantime, on the rainy days, or if you don’t manage to catch up with a chaplain outside, as always you can contact us via email on info@mitechaplaincy.com where you can request a call-back, or you are very welcome to call me directly on my mobile: 07526 378529 either to chat or to arrange a time to meet.
We also have a range of resources on our web-site including some that are more specific to the Covid-19 outbreak and some that generally help in dealing with stress: https://mite.org.uk
If you prefer you can easily keep in touch with us on social media: Facebook: @mitechaplaincy Twitter: @mitesthwarr