Making a little more room for wonder

This holiday season my family and I enjoyed a ‘staycation’ which allowed us to explore many local museums and restaurants that we had never visited before or hadn’t visited in a long time.

One of our outings was to the Planetarium. I have always loved the planetarium but it’s likely been close to 25 years since I was last there. So I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

Thankfully, it was just as interesting and awe inspiring as I remembered! Learning about the constellations, planets, and unique aspects of outer space (like ‘spaghettification’ - it is a real word!) was such a playful and meaningful way to spend part of an afternoon. It was a fun bonus too to notice there was no cell service in the theatre - one of the few places you can still be fully unplugged!

Of course we can’t have the flexible schedule of a vacation all the time and so I likely won’t be going to the Planetarium every week. But here’s an interesting thought experiment:

What might it be like to set aside some time even once a month (if not every week) to engage in an activity that gives us an experience of curiosity, wonder and awe?

If it sounds like a worthwhile thing to do, can we give ourselves this opportunity?

If it feels like a struggle (because oddly often it will!), what maybe gets in the way, and how can we make a little more room for wonder?

As for me, I plan to report back in a few months on my next Planetarium visit!