Awe and Joy
Easing through the holidays
It was 5:45 am when I pulled into a spot and exited the car. A slight movement pulled my attention across the dark parking lot as a family of five deer grazed beneath a cluster of trees. I paused in wonder and whispered a good morning to them. It was a familiar feeling of awe for these gentle creatures as it’s a common occurrence where I live.
The small moment of awe started my day.
The wonder of the season is upon us when moments of awe abound, particularly when we’re paying attention.
I wish you awe and joy.
On Christmas Eve, I’m reflecting about the importance and deliciousness of awe.
Seeking awe. Or being surprised by it.
Creating awe.
Awe. What a wonder word.
“Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world.”— Dacher Keltner
Wonderment. Amazement. Astonishment. Admiration. Veneration. Respect. Revere. Worship.
The awe of the human spirit is particularly top of mind and heart for our family this year, as we welcomed two new babies into the fold.
This Thanksgiving, we were all together for the first time. The time was filled with surprises, joy, and awe. It was compounded as my parents greeted their newest great-grandsons, each joining a big brother. What a pleasure to watch them love to the max.
As they are my great-nephews, I was also filled to the brim with awe. And, I’m still buzzing with joy as I sit here on Christmas Eve.
“Without awe life becomes routine…try to be surprised by something every day. Try to surprise at least one person every day.”— Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi
How do you define awe? Joy?
Notice the awe-some moments in your everyday.
“Wisdom begins in wonder."— Socrates
May this holiday be filled with all kinds of awe and joy.
