Do You Believe in Magic?

What is magic? Is it all "abracadabra" and "hocus pocus," or is there something more to it? We often describe childhood as having a magical quality to it and we fondly remember the magic surrounding a first kiss. Once these periods of time pass, sadly, the words "magic" and "magical" are used less often and presumed to have a polar relationship to the word "adult." Magic is actually a real and integral part of both life and health for kids and adults alike, and it surrounds each of us---if we pay attention to it.

I recently had the opportunity to go see a Huey Lewis and the News concert and undeniably, the adults in the audience were re-experiencing the magic they had felt during their childhoods and teenage years. As most of you probably know, Huey Lewis and the News are a San Francisco-based American band with a unique and catchy style of music that is a genre unto itself.

Their music not only captures the pizzazz of the decade during which their songs played regularly on the radio (the 1980's), but it embodies the thrum and energy of life and magic itself. How could I gauge this? Half of the audience was younger and attending their first Huey Lewis and the News concert. Though times have changed since the 80's, people continue to be attracted to music that captures life and youthful magic the way that Huey's songs do. If you're interested, check out their music!  www.hueylewisandthenews.com

Have you ever heard a song, read a book, or watched a movie that instantly transports you back to a time when you remember magic swirling around you? If so, how does it make you feel when this happens? For many, the immediate euphoric sensation may come with a twinge of sadness or nostalgia afterward. It can be bitter-sweet to remember times that felt more innocent and unburdened such as those felt during youth. When we're young, the world feels open and new like an unexplored gift. Though music and other forms of art can capture these memories and their magical quality, we quickly realize that there's no way to go back in time.

You know what, though? That's okay. There is no need to go back in time to have magic and innocence present in your life. Time has a forward progression, and that's the way it's meant to be. But that doesn't mean that life will rob you of magic simply because you can't go back in time or because you're an adult! You are where you are, and you are who you are---and there's a real-time sense of magic accessible to you right now. It's not exactly the same magic you felt during childhood, but it's true for you today.

Life can feel hectic and busy to the point where each of us ignores or rejects the magic that already exists for us. When you're momentarily jarred from reality by something touching such as magical music, it may not simply be due to nostalgia for the past. The strong emotions may be triggered by the magic that you're missing in your life today. Magic helps us stay true to who we are as individuals, promotes health and vitality, and inspires awe about the human spirit and the world we live in. What would a world without magic feel like?

This week, challenge yourself to kindle the magic that is natural to you and your life. What areas of your life could benefit from a healthy dose of magic and awe?