‘The extraordinary often resides within the ordinary, waiting to be noticed.’
What if the joy, peace and meaning you long for are never far away? We think of the important and precious moments of life as occasions like births, weddings or graduations, but what about when you finally wake up feeling well after a virus and see a sunbeam gleaming through the curtains? Or when you have a fleeting moment of understanding with a friend? Or when you see the force of a roaring waterfall or the Christmas lights turn on?
These moments come and go quickly and might be dismissed as relatively insignificant, but is it possible that they are really the essence of life? This is certainly more obvious in retrospect, and may be something we realise at the end of life, when memories of beautiful moments can seem luminous. But is it possible to live with a full-hearted appreciation of life’s simple gifts in real time?
Can you think of one of these moments in your life? What did it feel like? And soon after experiencing it, did you have the thought – ‘I must live my life more connected to this’?
But then life takes over doesn’t it. The grind rolls on. The monotony of the mundane has no apparent end. The sparkle and joy dims, the struggle to keep up with necessity takes priority. Over time, this unrelenting pace can lead to a loss of joy, a monotone feeling and a disconnection from what truly matters.
In the Wonder of the Everyday, we’ll turn our attention to our own life as it is and to the moments we have as we have them. By shifting our focus to these day-to-day experiences, we not only find more joy but also develop a profound appreciation for life itself. The course underscores that the extraordinary often resides within the ordinary, waiting to be noticed.
In adopting this mindset, participants discover that the joy they’ve been searching for was never far away. These bright moments were always present, waiting to be noticed – a rainy day, the fresh air in the car park, reflections at the kitchen sink, moments of peace on waking, a connection with a colleague, the moon and stars in the night sky, the rainbows from a prism in the window…
Do you ever become aware of walking around constantly feeling like something’s wrong, not good enough, lacking? Many of us live in this poverty mentality all our lives. The Wonder of the Everyday aims to counteract this by emphasizing mindfulness and intentional living. It challenges participants to ask themselves: “Am I truly present in my life?” The course encourages a slower, more deliberate approach, reminding us that fulfilment is not about doing more but about being more—being more aware, more connected, and more engaged with our people and surroundings. Then the basic richness of the life you already have will be so obvious you’ll wonder how you missed it before.
There’s a Buddhist practice which asks us to contemplate our ‘Precious Human Life’. Try holding this intention as 2025 begins. See how it can change everything. Find profound value in the life you already have.
Fay
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Fay’s popular new year course The Wonder of the Everyday is a perfect way to shift focus as you move into a new year. It starts on January 9th, and runs fortnightly with recordings and handouts in the alternate weeks.
