Wonders of the New

I've been in California for 18 days.Within the first 24 hours we had been on the ground, we went to a dance party, ate delicious tacos, met some incredible people and got some much needed sleep after a long travel day. We got groceries, went to the water (yes, within 24 hours I was at water) and I rested.My soul is so happy. There is something about New things that I love. It's like the amazement when you open all of your Christmas or Birthday gifts; everything is new and different. Part of you wants to open up all of the boxes and use them right away and another part of you wants to wait and savor the Newness by only using what you 'need' or 'want' in that particular moment.For me its the same sensation as putting on a pair of pants and finding money in the pockets. It's the Wonder of Wow, the Wonder of New.Right now, it still seems surreal that I am here. I'm wasn't sure if I would feel Normal here, but I feel New. All around New.This is a new season for me, a new season of Wonder, a new season of Joy, a new season of Life. One that is meant to be Lived, Experienced, Loved.Maybe it's just because I'm somewhere New, somewhere I have never been before. But I think it's something more than that. It's a different mindset, a different way of thinking. Instead of looking at this internship as a job, it's more than that, it's a chance to travel, meet new people and help encourage students to make a difference in the world. It's everything I love all wrapped into one.New is good, but at some point it becomes Old. It becomes that gift that you got months ago and now you barely use; or you've used up. It's that same pair of pants, maybe even your favorite pair of pants, but they're just pants. No surprises in the pockets this time. So how do we keep things as New, or at least Old and Good?My way of thinking is to find the New, find the Magical in the Mundane.When day in and day out you do the same ol' thing, it gets boring. Let's be real: It's hard to be motivated to go and do the same routine that we always do. We know that the day is going to look like, we know exactly what we'll have for lunch, who we'll text. We know it all. So where's the New in it? What will keep us on our toes?I challenge you to change one thing about your day:Take a different route to work today. Go for a walk in your neighborhood and find something that you don't usually look at.Leave your phone at Home and just be in the moment.Talk to someone new in your office or class.That restaurant you've always wanted to try but haven't yet, go there! Try it out!Old isn't bad, it can be good. New can be good (scary too). Just change the way you look at something, look at it through someone else's eyes. Try it and see how your outlook changes.Find the Magical in the Mundane.