Be the Bride of Amazement

Since beginning my spiritual journey and fully committing to my personal growth, the two guiding principles I’ve focused on are:

Live as presently as possible.
Be in a constant state of gratitude.

"WOW!" - I like to exclaim as I am in awe of beautiful scenery!

When turmoil begins to take shape, because of external circumstances, stories my mind makes up, or physical pain, I try my best to come back to those two objectives: return to this present moment (abandon thoughts taking place in the future and past), and find something to be grateful for, regardless of where I am or what I’m doing. It seems so simple, and that’s because it is - but simple doesn’t imply that it’s easy.

I was fortunate to attend a Mile Hi Church service right before Thanksgiving last fall. The sermon was incredible, given by Rev Michelle Medrano and included many suggestions for the upcoming holiday season to shift our mindset so that the stresses of time with family, consumerism, overindulgence, and all the other external annoyances related to the holiday season did NOT spike our nervous systems. There were four principles, and the last one stuck with me. Even five months after hearing it for the first time, I think about this phrase daily:

“Be the bride of amazement.”

This phrase perfectly encapsulates my two guiding principles so eloquently and simply. As a strategy to find present-ness and gratitude, simply be the bride of amazement.

Mary Oliver first published the phrase in a poem, “When Death Comes” in 1992 -

… When it’s over, I want to say all my life

I was a bride married to amazement.

I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder

if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,

or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

From the lush forests of Oregon, to the desert rocks of Nevada, and to the ferny forests of New England - there is so much wonder to explore in this great country!

We are spiritual beings, having a very brief human experience. And when our life comes to an end, what will matter most to you? The title of your profession? The amount of money you’ve amassed in the bank? The items that you’ve collected? Like Mary Oliver, I’m striving to be a bride married to amazement. I want to embrace life with a sense of wonder and awe, having actively sought out and appreciated all the beauty and wonder of everyday experiences.

Traveling around the country (and to several foreign countries) has given me the unique opportunity to find awe and appreciation quite easily. Everything is new! One of my favorite parts about hiking or exploring with friends while visiting is how absolutely mystified I am by every little detail, and yet for them, it’s normal or commonplace. They’ve seen moss growing on trees their whole lives, it’s not new to them - but it is to me! They’ve seen snow capped mountains and vistas of world-renowned ranges everyday, but I never have! They’ve seen the same rocks, landscapes, ferns, forests, rivers, prairies, meadows, swamps, bayous, bays, beaches, flowers, plants, trees, and views every single day… but when I come to town for 1-2 weeks, it’s all new. Every single week, I get to experience something entirely different. So, that’s made it easier for me to truly be in a constant state of astonishment, to embrace my goal of being the bride of amazement, allowing me to be fully present and in an everlasting state of gratitude.

If you’re not a Gypsy, and you do experience a bit of monotony during your day (the same habits and routines, the same views, the same job, the same, the same, the same…) then the physical environment isn’t as supportive for you to be in a state of awe throughout your day. However, you can still control your mindset. You can control how you view each aspect of your day.

For example, instead of simply drinking your morning coffee, try to get into a state of amazement. Really ponder where your coffee beans came from (the country, who harvested them, how far they traveled, the port they arrived to, and how they got to the store where you bought them), how they were roasted, how incredible it is that water comes right out of your faucet, that you have a machine to help you brew your favorite cup of coffee (or a French press, like me!), and you can appreciate your favorite addition (creamer or in my case, cacao powder!) that enhances each sip. Sit back, enjoy your daily cup of coffee, but embrace being the bride of amazement - sip presently, truly enjoy it, thank the Universe and Divine Spirit for all the steps it took for you to be here right now drinking your coffee, and embrace the wonder of this truly remarkable experience.

By welcoming a life filled with appreciation for everyday experiences, by slowing down and enjoying each part of our day rather than rushing through it, we can all live more presently and with more gratitude. We can all be the bride of amazement, and soak up this short, amazing, magical human experience for the time we get to be here.