Wonder and precepts: Starting 2021 with Wonders

 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

In 2012 R.J. Palacio published Wonder which tells the remarkable story of August "Auggie" Pullman a brave young boy with facial deformities called mandibulofacial dystosis, also known as “Treacher Collins syndrome” and his first year at a mainstream school highlighting  the struggles of a young boy in his fifth grade but with the help of his loving family, an inspirational teacher, and some truly wonderful friends, Auggie learns how to navigate life as an average middle-schooler with courage and, most importantly, kindness. In 2017 it became a major motion picture starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson that captured the hearts of the public. Whether you have read the book or watched the movie truly Auggie's life story is filled with many heartwarming words of advice, encouragement, compassion, and kindness that you will undoubtedly find yourself weeping happy tears by the end.

“We all need a standing ovation at least once in our life.” – Auggie

Last year, we have encountered battles that made us fall, and victories that made us stand higher than we have expected. We all deserved a standing ovation for every triumph and victories, no matter how small it was. Just like Auggie, we can bring wonders to the world and 

“The best way to measure how much you've grown isn't by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average — though those things are important, to be sure. It's what you've done with your time, how you've chosen to spend your days, and whom you've touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.” - Wonder, R.J. Palacio

Wonder and precepts: Starting 2021 with Wonders

The dictionary defines precept as a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought. And for this year my precept would be from Wonder that

"A fresh start gives us the chance to reflect on the past, weigh the things we’ve done, and apply what we’ve learned from those things to the future. If we don’t examine the past, we don’t learn from it.” - Wonder, R.J. Palacio

Good luck and let us be the wonders of 2021.