Monday Author: Susanne Skinner

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” ~ Roald Dahl

Magic lives in all of us, we just need to know how and where to find it. That’s a tall order, even for those (like me) who believe.

Henry David Thoreau says, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” I think he is talking about something I call everyday magic. I make an important distinction here because I am not speaking about magic wands and spells or Team Harry Potter.

I’m going for the more informal British interpretation: magic is the wonderful and exciting experiences each of us finds when we know where to look for them.

All it requires is a perspective realignment to discover this kind of magic because it’s usually hidden in plain sight. When your heart is open to magic, it reveals itself even on the most ordinary days.

The Magic Inside You

Magic also lives within each of us to find and share. It’s not the magic of spells and incantations but the positive energy that inspires us to live life to its fullest every single day.

Christopher Moore reminds us that children see magic because they look for it. They view the world without filters. Children do not limit themselves with logic, which, as we age, dims and eventually hides magic until we believe it no longer exists.

Finding inner magic empowers us; it keeps us from giving up when we feel burned out and discouraged. The key to understanding it is to first believe it exists. Only then can we teach ourselves to discover and share it. An open mind is an invitation to magic.

We are the creators of our thoughts and feelings. Reason and imagination sit side by side in our minds and both nurture the magic of our inner child. The minute we stop believing in the possibility of magic we subconsciously let it go. Always keep a place inside of you that allows magic to grow.

Look With New Eyes

If only it was easy to recognize this thing called magic! When we give ourselves permission to think about it, it’s not difficult. All we’re really talking about is a shift in our point of view to embrace the possibility of magic. The first thing about finding magic is believing it is there—otherwise it can never be found.

By shifting our perspective to look at the same thing from a different angle, we open ourselves up to new experiences. More than once, a little magic gets in when we see what is familiar with a new set of eyes.

The Little Things

Magic happens in unexpected ways. Baking is one of my passions and for my birthday a friend gifted me with a cookbook she knew I’d love. A book filled with amazing recipes waiting to be baked is a special kind of magic!

It is also a delicious reminder of our friendship. Escaping into cookbook magic connects me to people I love and fills me with a sense of contentment and well-being.

The Norwegians call it Hygge, a word that struggles with an English definition and lands on descriptions like coziness, warmth and belonging. Those feelings come from the little things that make us feel happy, loved and safe. Hygge is being present in the moment, and those moments invite magic.

Magic in Nature

The magic of nature bookends my weekends. Watching the beauty of sunrises and sunsets is akin to seeing magic happening in my own backyard. Living on the water offers me a front row seat to the alchemy that only nature creates.

My happy place is sitting outside with a cup of coffee, listening to the silence. Sometimes traffic rumbles in the distance, but mostly I hear owls hooting, birds chirping and anole lizards rustling in the bushes.

When the sky is clear, I savor a short period of time known as the blue hour, referring to an early morning or evening phase of twilight. When the sun is below the horizon blue wavelengths dominate the spectrum. It lasts 20 to 30 minutes, right after sunset and right before sunrise. No matter how many times I behold this wonder, Mother Nature’s magic steals my breath away.

It is impossible to see such splendor and not believe in magic.

Unexpected Magic

Sometimes magic happens in unexpected ways. Last week, while heading home from an outing with my sister, she tells me over and over that her birthday is coming and her godfather’s name is Bob. I try diversion and distraction, but today is difficult and she circles back to the same two phrases.

When I turn the radio on, she surprises me by listening to the song and identifying Tina Turner. I high-five her and tell her she is right. She smiles and says, “You’re my big sister!” I confirm that I am and she asks if I have a big sister. I say no while assuring her that she is my favorite little sister. She rewards me with another smile and tells me she loves me.