Finding Wonder in the First Days of December
December often arrives with its own kind of rhythm. The world speeds up, expectations rise, and suddenly there’s a pressure to do, buy, plan, and prepare. Diaries fill, to-do lists multiply, and even the things we want to enjoy can start to feel like obligations. It’s easy to get swept into the momentum without noticing how your body feels or what you actually need.
And in the midst of all that movement, we can lose the quiet, grounding moments that help us feel present and steady.
This week, I’m inviting you into a softer beginning to the month — one centred on wonder.
Not big, cinematic wonder.
Not the glossy, curated scenes we see on social media.
Not anything that needs to be captured, posted, or made perfect.
I’m talking about the small, subtle moments. The ones that arrive quietly, almost shyly, and yet shift something inside us.
The way morning light hits the kitchen tiles in a way you’ve never noticed before.
The breath you didn’t realise you were holding until it finally releases.
The delicate frost that glitters along a fence as you pass.
The warmth in a stranger’s smile when the world feels heavy.
The pause between one task and the next when you feel your shoulders soften.
These are moments of wonder too — and in seasons like December, they matter more than ever.
Why Wonder Matters
Wonder is one of the most grounding human experiences we have. It pulls us gently out of autopilot and brings us back into our senses.
It reminds us:
that beauty exists in ordinary places
that slowing down is not a luxury, but a need
that connection can happen in a breath, a glance, a tiny spark of noticing
When life feels rushed, wonder gives our nervous system a chance to settle.
When emotions feel close to the surface, wonder offers perspective.
When we feel tired or overstretched, wonder reminds us that we don’t have to chase meaning — sometimes we just need to notice it.
Let This December Begin with Curiosity
Instead of trying to make this month perfect, what if you approached it with curiosity?
What if you allowed yourself to ask:
What feels good today?
Where is there softness I’ve overlooked?
What small thing is asking for my attention?
You might be surprised by what you find.
Wonder isn’t about escaping the hard parts of life. It doesn’t erase stress, grief, fatigue or pressure. But it can sit alongside them — gently, quietly — creating tiny pockets of relief and presence.
A Slow Invitation for the Week
Choose just one moment each day to pause.
Not for long — maybe three seconds, maybe five.
Let yourself notice:
a sound
a glimmer of light
a texture
a breath
a feeling you didn’t realise was there
Let that be your moment of wonder.
It doesn’t need to change your whole day. Sometimes it’s enough for it to change just one small second of it.
Journal Prompt
“Where did wonder show up for me today, even in the smallest way?”
Write it down softly — a word, a sentence, or a memory.
This month, wonder doesn’t need to be big to be meaningful. It simply needs to be noticed.
