I’m in one of the busiest seasons of my life, but it’s good busy. It’s different from the busy of mothering young children. It’s different from the busy of holidays. This busy is around work and learning and travel and new things that matter to me. It’s a lot AND it’s also good.
Naturally, some other things that matter to me have been a bit neglected — mostly contact and conversation with my best people. But I think they understand.
Over the last week, the idea of awe came up repeatedly. I learned that there’s a lot of research around awe and that it’s actually quite good for our health. Psychologist Dacher Keltner who has studied awe (and written a book about it: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life) says it has to do with “perceived vastness.” There’s an element of transcendence in there, too. He suggests awe is as critical to our wellbeing as love, joy, and contentment. Here’s a gift article from The New York Times that explains this more: “How a Bit of Awe Can Improve Your Health.”
I’m working to feel positive about 2025, though it’s off to a rocky start in some ways. But no matter what life holds over the next twelve months, it would help us all to keep an eye out, to pay attention, to seek and savor whatever moments of awe we can find.
xo,
Beth
