Finding Awe In Your Life
We often get caught up in our busy, day-to-day routines and overlook the joy and awe waiting around us. I’ve always cherished time in nature, whether I’m on a stand-up paddleboard on salt water or gazing at the night sky. These moments remind me how small we truly are in the grand scheme of things. On a recent trip, I felt that same profound sense of awe while taking in the landscapes, mountains, and lakes of the Alps in Europe.
We just spent two weeks in France, Italy, and Switzerland with our oldest daughter, Michelle, and her family. We purposely stayed in smaller towns just outside the main tourist hubs of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Lake Como, and Switzerland’s Berner Oberland. I became a little obsessed with the views of the majestic, historic peaks surrounding us. Each village showed people living in harmony with the land, and taking time to be quiet and soak it all in proved the perfect reset.
As I reflected on this experience, I realized there have been other places where I’ve felt the same sense of awe. Travel has always been a priority for our family, and we’ve been fortunate to spend time in some truly amazing locations around the world. A few that stand out include:
- The Serengeti, Tanzania – I’ve visited Africa three times and always feel a deep connection to the land, animals, and people. I remember standing on the Serengeti during the Great Migration; after stepping away from our safari vehicle, I tried to absorb the vast landscape filled with two million migrating wildebeests and countless other animals. Knowing that humankind evolved nearby only added to the mystique.
- Sunsets in Nicaragua and Costa Rica – We’ve made many trips to the Pacific side of these countries, and each day’s highlight is watching their stunning sunsets from the beach. While I try to pause for sunsets daily, it feels especially meaningful there.
- The night sky atop Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawaii – I’ve always been intrigued by the stars, so when we had the chance to visit this mountain, we took it. We drove through rain and dense fog until, at a higher elevation, the sky cleared for an incredible sunset over the clouds, followed by a night sky unlike anything I’d seen before.
All of these places speak to me and give me a profound sense of how small we really are. We are one with nature, and if you can “quiet your mind enough to soak it all in” (thank you, Zac Brown), you can appreciate it fully. This feeling doesn’t require a spot halfway around the globe; you can find it in your own backyard. Turn off your phone, step into nature—whether a local park, a nearby body of water, or simply the night sky—and let yourself take it in. Recognizing the world with a sense of awe is something we often lose in our busy, connected lives, but it truly helps put everything in perspective.
- Lyle K Benson Jr., CPA, PFS, CFP, AEP
The views expressed represent the opinions of L.K. Benson & Company and are subject to change. These views are not intended as a forecast, a guarantee of future results, investment recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. The information provided is of a general nature and should not be construed as investment advice or to provide any investment, tax, financial or legal advice or service to any person.
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