Hey there, Wonder Seeker,
So, let me tell you a little tale that involves a tiny puppy, a dash of magic at the Mexican border, and a big ol’ lesson in receiving that I didn’t see coming.
Picture this: I’m down near Tijuana, and this teeny, maybe three-week-old pup pops into my life like he’s got a secret mission. No second-guessing, no overthinking… I scoop him up and home we go, straight into my slightly chaotic menagerie of furry family members.
Now, if you know me, you know I’m basically a walking “Adopt, Don’t Shop” sign. I’ve got a history of turning random encounters into rescue missions…from smuggling a farm cat home first-class from Iowa to doing midnight kitten midwifery for a surprise litter. Let’s just say animals choose me as much as I choose them.
Anyway, back to Señor Tijuana Pup. I knew he needed a vet check-up before introducing him to my other fur babies. So I hopped on the Nextdoor app, just asking for a low-cost vet recommendation…no handouts, just some neighborly tips.
Well, the universe had a different plan. One lovely neighbor offered to cover the whole vet bill in honor of her own dog, who had passed. And then, plot twist number two… someone else at the clinic overheard and threw another $150 credit on my account. I was floored. Like, universe, are you trying to tell me something?
Here’s the wild part: My first instinct was to feel guilty. To think, “Oh no, I can afford this, I should say no, someone else probably needs it more.” I was ready to shrink my receiving to fit some old belief that I had to earn or justify it. But in that moment, I realized…hey, this is the exact kind of “Add Wonder” moment I talk about. This wasn’t about me being needy; it was about allowing someone else to experience the gift of giving, and me being willing to receive it.
And that’s where it hit me: a lot of us keep a few “problems” or insufficiencies around just so we can feel justified in asking for or receiving something greater. We shrink ourselves into a box of “I have to be in need to accept this” instead of just letting ourselves be the joyful recipient of life’s surprises.
So here’s the analogy: Life is like a big cosmic potluck. Sometimes you bring the casserole, sometimes you bring the appetite, and sometimes you just get to be the one who tastes something amazing. And guess what? All of those roles are valuable.
Add Wonder Tools
- Next time you find yourself hesitating to receive, ask: “What if receiving this is actually a gift to the other person too?”
- And remember, the universe has a wild sense of humor. Sometimes it uses a random puppy and a generous stranger to rewrite your reality.
With so much wonder (and a whole lot of wagging tails),
PS. Okay, so my whole family is officially stumped on a name for this little guy. We’d absolutely love your help! Hit reply and let me know what you think we should call him. I’ll pick a favorite and announce his new name on my social soon!
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