A few years ago, I took my niece, Josey, on her first flight and her first trip to New York City!

AND it was in December!! If you’ve ever had the experience of walking around New York at Christmas time you know why I’m using exclamation points.

As we headed to the airport, I was in my usual rush and anxious mood.  I tell myself that I suffer from airport anxiety and I don’t think it’s just a story.  Anyone that’s traveled with me can attest.  That’s why I usually travel alone.  Ha! 

We parked the car, got on the shuttle bus, made it through the check-in, took our shoes off at security, and finally we were inside the terminal.  I was already exhausted, but Josey wasn’t. 

“There’s a Starbucks.  Wanna get a coffee?”  I asked my niece.  “YES!” she excitedly replied.  So, off to the lengthy Starbucks line we went.  I was busy wondering when these poor people behind the counter went to the bathroom, and if they got stressed that the line never ended.  Josey was happy as a clam, just taking it all in. 

After we got the coffees, we walked to the gate.  I was fretting over our “B” boarding status, but was strategically thinking as long as I get a window seat for Josey it didn’t matter.  I was a middle seat any way you looked at it.  But Josey showed no signs of stress.  She was enjoying waiting for the boarding call, sipping her latte and watching all the people in this make shift moon base called Terminal C. 

We finally boarded and Josey got the window seat for her very first flight (yay!) and then, the announcement came:

“This is your captain.  We were cleared for takeoff, but we are now grounded due to a backup at La Guardia.  It should be a 45-minute delay.  You’re welcome to deboard for 20 minutes or stay in your seat.” 

It’s always something, but I didn’t expect being trapped on a motionless airplane!  Josey on the other hand loved it! It’s my belief that her positive energy made the trip of “firsts” even more exciting because the flight attendant came by and asked if we wanted to see the cockpit!   Okay … what?  My niece not only got to see the cockpit, but she got to sit in the pilot seat on her very first flight.  How cool!!! 

I could go on and on about the trip once we got to New York and all the firsts that happened there – although one thing that never panned out was Josey getting a glass of sweet tea, but that was not from a lack of trying.  At some point though … and I’m pretty sure it was the generous offer from the crew to see the cockpit, which was a first for me as well, my perspective shifted and I started seeing the adventure through my niece’s eyes … the childlike wonder … and it was so much more fun! 
 

Lately, everything feels so heavy in the world, and my reaction to the heaviness is to be as productive as humanly possible. 

 No time for friends, no time for fun, no time for anything other than trying to get prepared for … what?  I’m not sure.  Childlike wonder is definitely something I don’t allow myself to experience regularly.  It feels indulgent and unimportant, but the opposite is actually true.  

I searched the index in The Artist’s Way, and I didn’t see the exact term “childlike wonder” but I have to imagine Julia Cameron would be all for it! 

Getting lost in an adventure, seeing things with childlike curiosity – what’s better than that?  

It’s a form of presence where all creativity comes from.  Being in that state of keen observation, curiosity, and delight is when we’re most likely to find that thing that we want to express to the world through our lens. 

I walked around a little town called Franklin today open and eager to find something out of the ordinary.  I heard a phrase in passing that I wrote down and want to remember, tasted a balsamic vinegar that reminded me of a Thanksgiving story worth putting on the page, and smelled a candle that reminded me of my grandmother’s hands.  I also took a picture of the bark of a tree growing on the sidewalk.  It felt good to notice beautiful and unusual things. 
 

And now, here I am … moved to write a newsletter today at 5:30pm, not my normal writing time, but my childlike wonder has helped me renew. 

I hope this inspires you to remember that creativity is joyful and changing your perspective to that of a curious child could pull you out of the heaviness you may be feeling. 

May your days be filled with childlike wonder, and may your art continue to flourish because of it. 

Take good care,