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Jun 8 - See the Wonder
See the Wonder
"As children we are awestruck by most of life. Everyday events - from the chirp of a cricket to a telephone conversation with far-away relatives - seem nothing less than a miraculous to the average three-year-old. Yet, somehow, as we grow into adulthood, that sense of wonderment gets drummed out of us. Too many of us sleepwalk through our lives, focusing on trivial matters ('that car took my parking place') and get locked into narrow ways of thinking ('my way is the right way').
Heraclitus' advice is to wake up to the wonders of our existence. What amazing things do you grasp? That the sun rose this morning and you're alive to enjoy it? That plants contain the pigment chlorophyll that allows them to store the sun's energy? That ingredients in the bark of the cinchona tree can combat the deadly effects of malaria? That your car brakes work virtually every time you use them? That compassion between human beings isn't all that rare? That wind chimes evoke childhood memories of spring rain? As scientist Lewis Thomas put it, 'Statistically, the probability of one of us being here is so small that the mere fact of our existence should keep us all in a state of contented dazzlement' (von Oech, 2002, p. 94-95)."
Reference: von Oech, R. (2002). Expect the Unexpected (or you won't find it): a creativity tool based on the ancient wisdom of heraclitus. New York: The Free Press.
Do you see the magic in your life?
Expect the Unexpected is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center. To borrow this resource or any other resource please go to the resource search page http://140.254.85.212/winnebago/search/search.asp?lib
If this is the first time you have borrowed resources from the OSU Leadership Center, please contact us at 614-292-3114 and we will register you in our library system. Once you have been added to the system, you may request resources via the website.
Learn how the Ohio State University Leadership Center is strengthening tomorrow's leaders today at http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu
Created: 2008-04-02, Updated: 2008-11-12
