In a Word: Wonder

For years, I’ve tried to explain why I’m interested in ghost hunting and other quirky topics.

In contrast with my everyday life, that’s always seemed… well, odd.

In a word - Wonder / Fiona Broome explainsI couldn’t even explain it to myself.

For much of the past 10 years, I’ve described myself as a “blip analyst,” explaining that I look for unusual things, especially in the context of the mundane.

But, not even able to explain my interests to myself, I’ve struggled to grasp what connects the dots… why some topics fascinate me and others are just “meh.”

And sometimes I’ve wandered down paths where – at a certain point – I had to pause.

And then say, “No, this isn’t right for me.”

(That’s rarely judgmental, on a broad scale. Often, it may be a topic or field that interest others far more. And I’ve had difficulty articulating when and why I lost interest.)

Today, I watched a video that helped me understand that elusive ingredient that holds my interest, in every aspect of my life.

That includes everything from admiring beautiful sunrises and sunsets, to trying to bake absolutely awesome chocolate chip cookies, to witnessing paranormal phenomena, watching parades, and visiting theme parks like Disney World.

The word is: wonder.

Here’s the video. It’s about half an hour long, and – for me – it was immensely important and insightful. And yes, he’s talking about stage magic, not witchcraft or Merlin or anything like that.

I think everyone should see this, because – no matter what your interests, career, or background – I think it’s what many of us aspire to.

WDS 2019 Main Stage Keynote – Nate Staniforth on Real Magic

“Where do you find wonder after you’ve lost it? It’s in the daily business of living.” For many in our world, magic is often connected with laser beams, smoke machines, rabbits, and tight leather pants. But not for Nate Staniforth.

Note: this is best watched on a large-ish screen, like a TV. If you have a streaming service that includes YouTube, search for “WDS 2019 Staniforth” and this video should be at the top of the list.