We live in a world where miraculous things happen every day.

Of course, most of these things don’t seem miraculous to us. They seem ordinary. But it all depends on your perspective.

Seeing with your eyes seems ordinary to you, but to a blind person, it’s astonishing.

Taking a breath seems ordinary to you, but to a person on a ventilator, it’s astonishing.

Walking down the street is ordinary to you, but to a paralyzed person, it’s astonishing.

Talking to someone on a wireless phone may seem ordinary to you, but to someone living in the 1800s, it would be astonishing.

Having the freedom to go the store may seem ordinary to you, but to someone in prison, it’s astonishing.

Mary Oliver said, “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

As a writer, part of your job is to help others be astonished. But you must first let yourself be astonished by the everyday miracles happening around you every moment.

Today’s Challenge: Look around and take in this moment. Pay attention. What astonishes you? How can you include that experience in your writing?