Has Anybody Seen the Remote?

And a meditation to do while you look for it.

Hello,

On Tuesday, I lost the television remote control. I never found it. I looked in all the usual places—between the sofa cushions, behind and under the sofa, in the pile of books and papers on the coffee table. It was like it had grown legs and snuck off. I thought it might turn up someplace odd. Maybe I accidentally carried it into another room? It has to be somewhere, right? Nope!

As I write this the replacement is ten stops away. So instead of fussing around and searching in my tv-free week, I looked for new ways to engage with my surroundings. I wanted to find things I might pass by each day without appreciating them, and take the time to notice them. Maybe I could reframe my environment. 

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

It is possible to find joy, enchantment, awe, wonder, charm (whatever you decide to call it) in so many things right within our reach: the baby bunny in the yard learning to hop, the incredible volume of cicada song right outside the door, the wild imagination of the author of the book I am currently reading, the intricacy of a spider’s web in the sunroom, the careful craftsmanship in architectural details that I often walk right by, the array of food from all over the world in my very own home, the strange comfort in seeing a brushstroke on a painting left by my mother’s hand. There is truly wonder everywhere.

Maybe this wonder-talk sounds like a waste of time to you when there are “more important” things to think about. There are many important things to think about, yes. Spending more time searching for wonder and meaning is among them.

Finding joy in your surroundings will refresh you and offer a new perspective. It might send you off in a new direction or help you recommit to the path you are already on. You might remember why you value what you do. You will reconnect with your senses. Your creativity will flourish. You will feel more respect for nature and artistry.

This exercise also helps you be more open. It’s easy to become hardened in the world we have created. People often do and say things without thinking much. We get busy and stuck in a routine. This will open you up to new ways of seeing. The more we practice finding wonder in our surroundings, the more receptive we become. When we begin to engage in this way without effort our connections grow.

Be curious. Investigate. Learn about something new. Wonder is a bridge to knowledge. It’s storming outside as I write this. There is thunder. Thunder is the sound of rapidly expanding air. How does that work? And what’s with that earthy smell after the rain, petrichor? And why can humans smell it so well? The internet can be a great resource. You might learn something that sends you on an adventure.

Deepen your connection with everyday life. Find comfort in a loved one’s laugh or silly things your pet does. Pets set a great example of exploring with curiosity. On a daily walk even on the same trodden path, dogs will revel in stopping to sniff and see what’s changed. We ought to do the same.

Please, give it a try. And if you have an experience of wonder that you would be willing to share, I would love to read about it in the comments.

There is a guided meditation on this topic for paid subscribers below.

Thanks for being here. Have a great week!

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