A Sense of Wonder: Noticing the Extraordinary in Everyday Life
October’s theme is A Sense of Wonder, and I’ve been looking forward to this one. I love the idea of paying more attention to the things that make us stop for a minute because something is beautiful, interesting, unexpected, or just plain fun.
When we’re children, wonder seems to come naturally. Everything is still new, so there’s always something to examine, ask about, collect, or get excited over. I see this with my grandsons all the time. Things I might walk right past can completely capture their attention. I don’t think we lose that ability as adults, but it can be easier to overlook. There are still plenty of things that fascinate me. I love discovering an incredible view while traveling, noticing the details in a beautiful old building, finding something interesting in nature, seeing a creative idea I’ve never encountered before, or experiencing a place I’ve read about for years.
Wonder can also be much smaller than that. It might be an amazing sunset, the first signs of a new season, something funny a child says, a tiny detail you notice on a walk, or even a completely ordinary thing that suddenly catches your attention.
Reflection Questions for October
Use these questions to think about what brings a sense of wonder into your own life.
What has amazed you lately?
Think about something that made you stop, look closer, or want to know more.
What do you notice now that you might have overlooked in the past?
Think of experiences that have taught you to appreciate certain details, places, people, or parts of everyday life differently.
Where do you most often find a sense of wonder?
Consider nature, travel, art, books, music, creativity, science, history, family, or anywhere else you tend to find it.
What do the children in your life notice that adults often miss?
If you spend time with children, think about what captures their attention and what you've noticed because of them.
What would you love to see or experience someday?
It could be somewhere you want to travel, a natural phenomenon you'd like to see, a place you've always wanted to visit, or an experience you've been curious about.
Creative Ideas for Memory Keeping
A Sense of Wonder is especially fun to explore through photography and memory keeping because so much of it begins with noticing something.
You could:
Make a page about something that recently amazed you
Document something beautiful you noticed in an ordinary place
Create a list of things you still want to see or experience
Tell the story of a place that exceeded your expectations
Photograph something from a child's point of view
Create a collection of small details that caught your attention
These don't need to be spectacular moments. In fact, I think it would be interesting to deliberately document some very small ones. Photograph the unusual leaf you found on a walk, the way the light falls across a room, something your child stopped to examine, or a detail in a familiar place that you've somehow never noticed before.
Add a Creative Touch
This month's A Sense of Wonder Collection was inspired by that same idea of looking a little closer at the world around us. [Once the collection is finished, I'd customize this paragraph with the actual imagery and phrases you ended up using.]
The collection can work for big experiences such as travel and adventures, but I also want it to feel at home with everyday photographs. Use it for beautiful views, nature, places you explore, things your children or grandchildren discover, unexpected moments, interesting details, and anything that makes you stop and take another look.
Get the full A Sense of Wonder collection in one discounted bundle. This set is designed for documenting curiosity, quiet discoveries, nature moments, thoughtful stories, everyday magic, and the small details that make life feel full of wonder. It includes dreamy pocket cards, nature-inspired patterned papers, coordinating solids, and layered templates with room for photos and journaling.
Includes
A Sense of Wonder Pocket Cards
24 cards total, 12 size 3x4 and 12 size 6x4
Digital JPEG files + printable PDF
A Sense of Wonder Patterned Paper Pack
15 patterned 12x12 papers, 300 dpi (JPEG)
A Sense of Wonder Solids Paper Pack
15 solid 12x12 papers, 300 dpi (JPEG)
A Sense of Wonder Template Set
8 layered templates total
4 layered 12x12 single page templates
4 layered 24x12 double page templates
Digital download only. No physical product will be shipped. Personal use only.
Keep Looking
One thing I like about focusing on a monthly theme is that it changes what I notice. Once I start thinking about something, I begin seeing examples of it everywhere. I'm going to pay more attention to what makes me reach for my camera, what sends me down a rabbit hole because I want to know more, and what makes me stop for a few extra seconds instead of moving on to the next thing.
