The Importance of Awe and Wonder
October 22nd, 2024
One of the compelling qualities of children is they are constantly in touch with feelings of awe and wonder. Life delights them. They relish new experiences. They take little for granted. They seem to have a deep and intuitive connection to the natural world. As we age we tend to grow out of these attitudes and feelings. Perhaps the genuine responsibilities of life and the pressing demands of family and career push aside these childlike responses to the wonders of being alive. This is one of the ironies of becoming an adult – we lose something vital that children naturally possess, and it is why I have always believed that children can be role models for adults.
This summer, I spent a couple of weeks in Southern California, first in the Santa Ynez Valley and then in Pasadena, visiting my son and grandson. The majesty of this area—the mountains, valleys, ocean, and climate—offered several awe-inducing moments. And time spent with my 18-month-old grandson, and seeing life through his eyes, reminded me of what being naturally connected and open to life looks like.
We can reorient our relationship with awe and wonder by being more aware of and attuned to the power and beauty of the natural world. And those with young children or grandchildren can delight in the very real ways children intuitively know and naturally demonstrate their appreciation of life itself, which is a very good thing to be reminded of.
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