Article: Awe and wonder

Snow excites me. It always has. Apologies to those for whom snow is an inconvenience / a danger. I just can’t help it. It seduces me. Nothing wakens me like the muffle and glow of a snow covered world behind the curtains. Snow sends me giddy with the way it changes everything, the way it imposes itself. It sets me aquiver with its transformation of colour, sound, shape, movement and feel. I’m amazed as I look at the grand panorama and at the microscopic; the glittering landscape and each exquisite flake. And snow scares me: The thunder of a nearby avalanche, stinging spindrift, a blinding blizzard.

I’m profoundly affected by snow and I think this is a good thing.

1. It proves I’m alive. If René Descartes’ ability to think reassured him of his existence, my reaction to snow reassures me that I’m alive; really alive and part of something wonderful.
2. It inspires me to creativity. My work in the medium of snow is usually crude and childish (unhygienic even) alongside natural snow forms but I can’t help but receive a transfusion of creative zing from them.
3. It helps me renew a healthy perspective. Humility is easy to find a few metres from the thump of a collapsing snow cornice. Humility is good not just because it helps me see how small I am but because it enables me to know how great is the thing I am a part of.
4. It energises me. It just does.

In the last month how many experiences have you had that tick all 4 points above? What has you saying, “Wow!”? What have been the most awesome and wonderful experiences you have had? What was it about these experiences that did it for you? What else might do the same?

Here are some possible winners: A ride in a hot air balloon, an episode of David Attenborough, a walk through a storm, the birth of a child, mountains, an alligator rising from the depths of your toilet, a glacier, getting tossed about in surf, great artwork, the sight of your belly button from the inside*.

What things are currently preventing you getting regular doses of awe and wonder? What will you do about these? When will you do it? How can you know more awe and wonder?

Awe and wonder reassures us we’re alive, it inspires us, humbles us and energises us. In other words, it enables us to know recreation.

Awe and wonder. Get some.

* This shouldn’t be possible without the aid of surgery. Think twice before attempting to gain a view of any of your insides without the aid of proper medical facilities and people.