Childlike Wonder
On our recent flight to St. Lucia, on the first leg out of Denver, we sat next to a girl (probably in high school or college) who was shaking with excitement and anticipation. I just assumed she was excited for her trip and I kept myself buried in my latest book.
By the time she had taken her 10th photo and we hadn’t even taken off yet, she looked at me wide-eyed and gasped, “This is my first flight!”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise, then softened into a smile mirroring her energy.
“Wow. That’s so exciting!” I replied.
I was actually touched by it and I learned she was going to a Mission trip to Haiti with a group (they were from Wyoming). Boy is she in for a ride.
She kept asking questions about what happens when you take off, paying close attention to the flight attendants safety presentation, asking us what different buttons did (“Um, that’s a light…”) and taking more photos.
As I kept reading my book, I kept glancing up at her and the entire time she was batting her eyes and grinning.
I couldn’t help but feel that infectious grin. I can’t remember the first time I flew, because I was less than 1 year old and was flying overseas with my family.
Travel has been in our life since the beginning and it’s not something I take for granted, but it’s also become part of the everyday. Since college I have always lived far away from home and I purposely spend my money on the experience/travel.
I thought to myself on that flight about this sweet girl. I thought, why can’t we all have more childlike wonderment? Flying is actually incredible. We’re shooting through the sky so incredibly fast and can be brought across the world to see something, new different and enlivening. We can’t help that we may have done it so many times it isn’t new, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be giddy with excitement.
It helped remind me of my firsts and all my senses from the feelings, to the seeing, to the sound. I couldn’t help but giggle to myself. Just thinking about those times made me happy.
It was a kind reminder. To exercise joy. Just as if it were one of your first times experiencing X.
Here’s to more childlike wonder. Because seriously, we all could use a little more of it.
