#49 Learning from Experiences of Awe

Last week I asked you to reflect on the wife of a firefighter who lost her husband on 9/11, and how each night thereafter she sat for weeks on the beach watching the sunset. We mentioned that alongside her deep pain, she also felt deep gratitude. And, in addition to gratitude, as she watched the sun set, she also experienced awe - something we haven’t yet defined, but we know is deeply connected with increased levels of happiness. Talking about awe is complicated, inherently complicated, because once you start to talk about it, to describe it, to analyze it – in a fundamental way you automatically lose a big part of the experience of it. Think of the initial reaction you have to seeing an overwhelmingly beautiful sunset. You will probably stand and stare, soaking it in. But within moments you might call someone over to come see the beautiful sight, or if you’re alone you might just start noticing the different colors, the patterns…