Embracing Awe in 2024: Reflecting on Resilience and Finding Moments of Wonder
As the calendar flips to 2024, I spent this morning revisiting not just the past year but the entirety of the 2020s, attempting to make sense of the blur that encompasses the last 3-4 years. Amidst the retrospective journey, one word resonates with me — Awe. Yes, awe at the resilience that humanity has displayed since the world grinded to a halt in the late winter of 2020. The ability to endure without fully processing the challenges faced is truly remarkable. Now, more determined than ever, I approach 2024 with a deep sense of gratitude, seeking moments of awe in the midst of daily life.
In his enlightening book, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life" (2023), Dacher Keltner defines awe as "the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world." Awe, according to Keltner, is about our relationship with the vast mysteries of life, an emotion that connects us all.
Keltner goes on to explain that awe is a common human experience that cuts across 8 wonders of life: strength, courage and kindness of others, collective effervescence, nature, music, visual design, spiritual and religious, life and death, and epiphanies. (pg. 13-17).
Reflecting on my own experiences, the awe I feel falls into the category of strength, courage, and kindness, particularly within the realm of education. As educators, we've weathered the storm. Without delving into the intricacies of teaching during the emergence of COVID-19, I am in constant awe of the educators who go above and beyond.
From a teacher comforting a sick student to collaborating with colleagues to open their classrooms to visitors, the acts of kindness and resilience witnessed in the education community leave me daily in awe.
Finding awe isn't just a feel-good experience; it has tangible benefits. Research cited by Keltner reveals that daily awe walks contribute to improved health, with correlations found between feelings of awe and enhanced immune system function. Beyond the physical benefits, those who embrace awe tend to exhibit more humble behaviors and report higher overall well-being and life satisfaction.
Feeling awe prompts us to acknowledge something beyond ourselves, pulling us out of our daily stressors. As Summer Allan suggests, awe inspires generosity and fosters a sense of connection with others.
Awe is accessible at no cost to us all. I personally find solace in moments like watching a sunset. Those daily instances of sitting in awe of the universe, witnessing the sky put on a breathtaking show, never fail to leave me speechless and calm. Whether it's the wonders of nature, music, or any of the eight categories outlined by Keltner, awe is readily available.
I am also captivated by the awe-inspiring world of mathematics. It offers the potential for surprise and those "aha" moments when solutions to challenging problems become clear. Just consider the cool mathematical fact that yesterday's date was 123123. How awesome is that?
This image shows fascinating information about the number 2024 that my friend professor Hanna Haydar pulled together.
Mathematics, with its patterns, geometry, symmetry, and real-world applications like fractals in river networks, is a constant source of wonder.
In summary, awe is a fundamental human experience that transcends daily life, providing moments of tranquility and joy. It carries both physical and emotional health benefits and is freely available to us every day.
I declare 2024 as the year for Awe!
Let's actively seek moments of awe, whether it's expressing gratitude for the small heroic acts of our colleagues, appreciating the beauty of mathematics, or simply taking an awe walk to engage our senses in the world around us.
In the meantime, I am in AWE OF YOU! Thank you for all that you do.
Kindly,
Sue