Do you ever think about the things in your life that give you pause to sigh, wonder and just step back from your every day “busyness”? Well I just came back from a conference located near one of the world’s natural wonders and it reminded me of something that I don’t do enough and that is open myself to the feeling of “wonder.”

I was at a conference located practically on top of Niagara Falls (the Canadian side). My hotel room actually opened up to a full-face view of the falls. Each morning I’d wake up before sunrise, go to my bank of windows and slide open the door to hear the gush of the falls.

It’s the kind of thing I preferred doing in the wee hours of the morning since at that time there was no vehicular traffic to interfere with the powerful distinctive sound of 35 million gallons of water per minute gushing down the 180 ft drop that is Niagara falls.

It is an awe inspiring sight to take in with all the senses.

That time I took each morning to breath in the air, gaze at the falls and listen to the enormous power and potential of mother nature gave me such sense of amazement and at the same time a sense of calm.

It was like being frozen by incomprehensible beauty and at the same time becoming energized by the knowledge that my world includes this natural wonder.

After this morning routine, I’d go through my ideas and plans for the day with clarity and purpose. I think the sight of the falls gave me perspective on my little world. It wasn’t so little anymore – there is so much beauty and grace beyond what we know in our everyday interactions. The best part is much of the “wonder” in this world is there for us to discover, if we take the time to look.

You may not have the falls in your morning view, but there may be a toddler within range whose laugh can set your day straight. Or maybe if you look not too far there are exquisite lilac blossoms exploding with the life and color of the season and they may give you pause to “wonder.”

Maybe what inspires you is just the opportunity to start another day with those you love close by or the ability to do the work you love at home or in your community. The important thing, I think, is to hang on to that sense of wonder and joy in the everyday, good things in your life that can be so easily overlooked only to be appreciated too late.