On The Wonderfulness Of Life
If you’re not intrigued already by the title of this piece then perhaps you should be… after all, who dares to proclaim life as so shamelessly wonderful these days?
The truly religious are becoming few and the spiritual are ‘drowned in the shallow waters’ of what the word or practice actually means. Needless to say, my life isn’t always perfect either, but the practice of acknowledging wonder, beauty and/or joy in my everyday existence is proving to be a rather wholesome one.
When, why or how is life exactly wonderful? What are those moments that feel truly sacred and special? I’ve some ideas about it (and so might you). Here’s just a few from the collection:
1) Beginning again: each day is its own experiment. The rising and setting sun makes it so. Whatever happened today is done. The curtain comes down, whatever is still to be celebrated can be enjoyed, and any challenges can be reflected upon, corrected or simply forgotten about.
What a beautiful thing it is to be able to begin again, each and every day. To no longer be who we were yesterday; to suffer in the same way as before; or to keep up aged habits, relationships or identities. Each morning, for me, starts with reading, organising, moving my body, and usually writing. This way I’m already sculpting my new self and kindly waving away my last one. Just like each day is a new start, each and every moment is a chance to restart, to reignite one’s dreams or simply to return our awareness to the mind-body.
How do I feel? What do I need? What decisions am I making right now? Are they for the best?
Taking a deep breath and observing the inhale (and subsequent exhale) is the easiest and most effective way to do this. A remarkably simple gift we were born with, and always carry with us wherever we go…
2) Unknown realms: the great magic of life comes partly through the sheer mystery surrounding everything we are and everything we do. It is simply not possible to know (or understand) anything about this world, and we needn’t in fact. Our efforts at figuring things out are like fingers pointing at the moon; it’s our intent and alive exploration which enlightens us, not the truth per se of our findings.
It’s etched in every human’s soul perhaps, the desire to peek into the dark abysses of nature, of the universe, of our own body and mind, and to come back with more questions than answers. It’s more fun that way, and more realistic also, to say the least.
What a fruitless life we’d lead if we’d figured it all out. In fact, it would be counterproductive to the ways of nature, to know it all, despite life’s ever-changing dynamics. And to be in disharmony with ‘the way’ (or the Tao) never breeds contentment or joy.
Better to be the (wise) idiot, possessing the eyes of a child, the mind of the philosopher and the body of a pilgrim.
Then the fun REALLY begins, and the moon effortlessly reveals itself to us all…
3) People: many people (including myself at times) like to pretend they don’t like other humans - or at least certain groups of them. Leave them alone in a room, however, for even a few hours and they’ll be scraping at the walls, desperate to converse, laugh, confide in their fellow man.
We’re a social species. Human Anthropology overwhelmingly suggests so (Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, would be my recommended source) even if your daily experience of being doesn’t.
We’re not the strongest or quickest in the animal kingdom, nor are we the largest, the most sensitive, the best climbers or swimmers etc, but we DO seem to have the greatest social and collaborative capacities, through our ability to organise, communicate, empathise and relate to one another.
I’ve said it many times: I LOVE PEOPLE. Truly.
As crazy, damaged and difficult as we can be at times… I love us!
After all: how special it is that I can fly anywhere in the world (almost?), and easily and quickly find universal ways to feel accepted and embraced by that culture. Whether it’s food, running, dance, language, poetry, nature or art, there are tremendous threads that connect us all and enrich all of our lives together.
To be alone (or indeed to FEEL alone) may be the worst, most soul-destroying experience for anyone, especially a child. We see examples of this everywhere, including throughout our own daily lives. I’m grateful that my (sometimes) lonely hours and days are through choice and not necessity, and that I have family, friends and colleagues to enjoy time with and support me when needed.
4) Ritual: we are a peculiar species in that, throughout our centuries of civilised life on this planet, we’ve found intentional ways to spend time, through focused, ritualised containers of various kinds.
This intentional act of constructing our own learning, time and experiences has created many of my most loved hobbies, routines and practices.
The ‘workout’ is one example, although that term is rarely used in my mini-spheres of Movement Culture. A practice, a study, a class or a ‘session’ speaks differently of what’s essentially the same thing: a ritual involving the body as its focus.
These practices (when performed well) equally utilise music, a dojo of some kind, a notebook and pen, some specific intentions and/or materials to follow and (if lucky) a group of similar movers to share the space with.
Contrary to some cultures’ beliefs, the work-hard-sweat-hard attitude is less useful (and sustainable) than the smart, programmed and ‘ritual’ approach of doing things. Knowing WHAT we’ve done and HOW we’ve done it is as important as the doing itself - for then we also know what and how we might do things better in the future.
Needless to say, the tribe of movers is equally vital. Science might never fully comprehend why exactly such positive peer-pressure (and basic mirroring of one another) is so damn effective… but it is!
It’s a ritual I wish for everyone in some way, shape or form; weekly at least, if not daily…
In reflection it’s rather strange perhaps to break down our essentially ‘wonderful’ nature of being into separate PARTS - that of Beginning Again, Mysterious Unknown Realms, Our Fellow (wo)Man and various Important Rituals.
It’s easy to imagine that we need, in fact, to empty ourselves only of such ideas and all will be well.
I don’t disagree. We are all already whole. Yet small doses of affirmations, reflections and verbal reminders, I find, help me to return to that natural (and wonderful) state.
I sincerely hope that it does the same for you…
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