I must admit, I’m cheating a little today. I have been letting the internet and my files and documents take me down a rabbit hole. Admittedly, I’m a little distracted. I’m not perfect and sometimes do succumb to the terrors of web surfing. One thing I did find, which would be remiss of me not to share with you because it’s heartfelt, was an old guest blog that I did for a friend’s business. Reading it a year on, I don’t recognise the writer. She wasn’t bad. I hope you enjoy this blast from my chronicles…
The wonder of childlike wonder
My mother and I had the privilege of seeing the small selection of terracotta warriors on display at the New South Wales Art Gallery Friday last. The intricate army built especially to protect the Chinese emperor in the afterlife were “just amazing” (quote, my mother). As my mother wandered through the halls viewing ancient artifacts alongside the life size statues she was even more amazed, describing everything with “Oh’s” and “Ah’s” and simply sighing. She was totally taken with the marvellous show. And I was totally taken with hers. Seeing her face light up in amazement and with such appreciation absolutely melted my heart. It was beautiful to watch. It was “childlike wonder”; innocent, pure and curious. It got me thinking, where did that all go? Where was everyone’s childlike wonder? Our simple appreciation, for example, in someone’s talent? Our innocence behind questions, sans cynicism and agenda? Purity in our words? Curiosity to delve further beyond everything we hear, see and feel? Where did that go?
There is a Buddhist philosophy which believes that presence is key. The past has already happened. The future is yet to come. All we have is this moment.
I have a sneaky suspicion that we (Western society) have let our pasts dictate how we act in the present, meaning we have lost our sense of presence. You see, we attach ourselves to memories and past events and then generate beliefs and values as a result. We then flavour our responses, our questions and our thoughts with these beliefs and values. Some are empowering and incredibly serving. Some are not. Some are flavoured with protection, cynicism and judgement – funnily enough, just the opposite of innocence, purity and curiosity.
So the next time you’re seeing something, try and see it for the first time, as if you were a child. Detach yourself from thought and anchored emotion. My mum certainly did 🙂
With love
Lynda Bayada
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