Nature used to captivate me. The call of a bird, the peak of a volcano, the color of a flower.

I would stop and stare at nature for hours. Evening after evening passed on my deck under the swaying trees.

It started when I stopped sitting outside. I would say there were mosquitos, or it was cold, or I had things to do. But mosquito season went, it was never that cold, and I never found the time. A daily occurrence turned weekly, then sometimes, then when I found the time (which was almost never).

I grew calloused. All my "must dos" had turned to "used tos". No more searching for toucans, watching the monkeys, afternoon deck sitting. 

My life got worse as I got used to things. And isn't that normal? Aren't things less magical now than when you were a kid?

It's normal. But it's to be avoided, resisted, fought against. Getting used to is a part of growing old, but its the part that sucks the life out of life.

My life got better as I slowed down. Magic started became real once more as I remembered to appreciate the things I used to love.

Growing used to is normal. But don't let it rob you of your joy.