What does it mean, to live a wonder full life?

It means that you live life with your eyes open to the wonders around you. The more that I learn about the world, the more magical it appears. Study herbalism, study foraging, study gardening, learn about dyes and textiles… really, any study of the natural world and its provisions will open your eyes.

I learned more about livestock guardian dogs, and grew to love my dog (who has some LGD in her breed) even more, as I saw her everyday actions in a new light. She’s protecting me – and the tiny dogfriends who live next door too. I learned more about personality types and understood my friends better, which made me appreciate them more. My life is full of wonder, and the more I learn, the more wonder-full it becomes.

The vat of flax seeds at your natural grocer is full of heart-healthy fats, which is why they’re sitting in the grocery store. They can also be made to flaxseed oil, found at that same grocer… or into linseed oil, which can be found at your artists’ supply depot. Allow the flax to grow, and it can be part of your water-wise pollinator garden and please you with its pretty blue flowers. Harvest that flax and process it, and you end up with linen.

Walking through the eucalyptus woods near me, not only do I see the eucalyptus trees (which were planted for fast-growing firewood, back when steam engines ruled the West) that could provide me with foraged eucalyptus oil (which is, of course, excellent for clearing out the lungs, and has many other benefits as well), I see banks of nasturtiums (seeds can be used as capers, leaves and flowers spicy and edible, a good trap plant for aphids) in the springtime, and even the sowthistle I now know can be part of a nutritious dinner. I drive by plant after plant, and the more you know – the more you know. You see food, fiber, poison, healing, … et cetera. One’s eyes open. You live a more wonder full life.

Learn more about fabrics, and you drop into the wonder that is wool. Wool is an embarrassingly generous giver. Fire retardant, warms when damp, water resistant, compostable, and useful for a wide variety of things apart from clothing and other textiles. Walk on the beach, enjoy the day, and come home to learn about the ozone, the rhythmic crash of the waves, the salt… and how they benefitted you.

The world is full of gifts, we have been given an embarrassment of riches. Living a wonder full life is easy, if you open your eyes. The world is full of beauty, and even a pebble can bring great rewards. Learn to read the trees and clouds and you’ll find your way home and know what weather to expect. Notice the tiniest flowers and lichens… make room for the possums eating ticks (but not so much room that they eat your chickens). Enjoy the interplay of chicken, cow, and soil. Watch as stewardship transforms the environment. Wonder at how a little human care (properly educated/observant/oriented) can restore beauty.

A life void of wonder can be grey and uninspiring. Living, as we do, in cubicles and metal boxes, sometimes we lose hold of the reality of the wonder that surrounds us. I urge you to learn about this beautiful world and let it infect you with delight. It will inspire you to fling off your headphones and stop living like Harrison Bergeron. Your life can only get better.