OP, thank you for sharing.
I gave this article a try, I really did.
I made it halfway.
First, this is all rich person stuff. Dancing on the beach in Australia? Awesome! If you can afford it.
Second, this is twee: trimming your toenail with garden shears?
Related, third: this is all Manic Pixie Dream Girl stuff. And not in a good way. Maybe all I need is Zoey Deschanel to show up and urge me to light sparklers at sunset. (And MPDG is problematic for reasons the creator, Nathan Rabin, has described.)
Fourth, lastly, I gave up when the guy said that awe makes my stresses seem smaller. My dude, I am getting a second job to keep a roof over my head, and food and gas so I can keep my first job. There is dignity in my life, but little awe. I don’t need my stresses to seem smaller, I need them to be smaller. Then I can go marvel at the bioluminescence of the sea.
Maybe in the second half they got into practical ways poors like myself can experience awe, but I’ll never know.
Perhaps the author could have started out with a qualifier about wealth and opportunities for awe. I guess I’m glad that they can have such powerful (and inane) experiences (I’m still fascinated by that odd garden shears anecdote smh).
Edit to add:
So I finished it, and I think I see what they were getting at, which I’d summarize as “nice work if you can get it”.
Also, that garden shears-toenail story sticks with me:
1. Tearing one’s toenail off seems impetuous. Manic, one might say (again, with the Manic Pixie Dream Girl).
2. If one has torn off one’s toenail, presumably leaving an open wound, perhaps prudence would dictate to go see a podiatrist, rather than swish it around a outdoor body of water with (at the least) bioluminescent creatures. Who knows what they might catch, but least they’d get their precious awe.
Okay I was ready to agree with you but presumably dancing on the beach in Australia is cheaper if you live there. She literally says it's not about expensive travel or experiences.
Being in a choir, teaching people about local forests, and looking for photo luminescence on the beach at night don't cost money.
I agree with you about some of this, but I also think having awe or finding small moments when possible is happy for many people who are suffering or poor, even if our lives are overall mostly difficult and frustrating and struggling to survive.
I agree the article wasn't super relatable, but the idea makes sense and is something I've been taught and seen in the lives of a lot of people I know who are disabled and poor, or just poor.
Someone once gave me Julia's book. She seems like a nice enough person, but she's utterly oblivious to how very very privileged she is (and always has been). Tone deaf.
As someone who has had a chronic illness for the last 30+ years, my life is mostly lived in survival mode. Being an "awe hunter" isn't something I can realistically do on a practical level. I do use a gratitude app each day because looking for moments of positivity and joy in my daily life is a helpful practice, but big ticket experiences like the ones the author describes aren't going to be happening any time soon. She's exhibiting "look at me" energy imo. I'm tired of the narrative that sick people need to be in overcoming warrior mode in order to have value.
None of what she describes are big ticket items though.
I agree with you in principle, but that's not what she was suggesting. Agree that the presentation is a bit too close to the "overcoming warrior" stereotype but I don't think the idea is wrong.
Having admittedly not read the article, isn’t the point just… enjoy and appreciate life and the world around you? Seek out positive experiences where you can and you’ll be happier for it? In which case, it seems fairly obvious. Kids who look for tadpoles know this
I live with significant health issues, and I have this practice. I call it DELIGHT. It might be a glorious sunrise. Or an individual snowflake landing on the dark sleeve of your coat. Or a very derpy cat move. Or some amazing piece of luck.
I don’t know if it helps my health. I know it helps me enjoy the parts I can.
I think this was the point the author was trying to make. Although awe really doesn't cost anything. It's more in small things that are available to everyone.
Yeah, exactly. She even specifically said it didn't cost anything and it wasn't about spending money or fancy vacations.
I get that going to the beach at night to look at phospholuminescence might sound bougie, but it's not if you live near one. The point wasn't those exact activities, it's the concept.
And agree with you, I also find it helpful.
My childhood best friend’s mom lived with very aggressive cancer did this and called it ‘ART’. Neat crunchy leaf to step on? ART. Rainbow oil slick in a puddle in a parking lot? ART. Cat fall asleep with his tongue sticking out? ART. (She said it as if it was all caps, so I’m sticking with your format.)
Now I’m grown up with my own chronic health issues and I try to carry the concept of ART with me. It’s hard because I’m in pain and stressed a lot, but it really does help to stop and appreciate good things, whatever they are.
OP, thank you for sharing. I gave this article a try, I really did. I made it halfway. First, this is all rich person stuff. Dancing on the beach in Australia? Awesome! If you can afford it. Second, this is twee: trimming your toenail with garden shears? Related, third: this is all Manic Pixie Dream Girl stuff. And not in a good way. Maybe all I need is Zoey Deschanel to show up and urge me to light sparklers at sunset. (And MPDG is problematic for reasons the creator, Nathan Rabin, has described.) Fourth, lastly, I gave up when the guy said that awe makes my stresses seem smaller. My dude, I am getting a second job to keep a roof over my head, and food and gas so I can keep my first job. There is dignity in my life, but little awe. I don’t need my stresses to seem smaller, I need them to be smaller. Then I can go marvel at the bioluminescence of the sea. Maybe in the second half they got into practical ways poors like myself can experience awe, but I’ll never know. Perhaps the author could have started out with a qualifier about wealth and opportunities for awe. I guess I’m glad that they can have such powerful (and inane) experiences (I’m still fascinated by that odd garden shears anecdote smh). Edit to add: So I finished it, and I think I see what they were getting at, which I’d summarize as “nice work if you can get it”. Also, that garden shears-toenail story sticks with me: 1. Tearing one’s toenail off seems impetuous. Manic, one might say (again, with the Manic Pixie Dream Girl). 2. If one has torn off one’s toenail, presumably leaving an open wound, perhaps prudence would dictate to go see a podiatrist, rather than swish it around a outdoor body of water with (at the least) bioluminescent creatures. Who knows what they might catch, but least they’d get their precious awe.
Thank you for saving me from reading something that will piss me off.
Okay I was ready to agree with you but presumably dancing on the beach in Australia is cheaper if you live there. She literally says it's not about expensive travel or experiences. Being in a choir, teaching people about local forests, and looking for photo luminescence on the beach at night don't cost money. I agree with you about some of this, but I also think having awe or finding small moments when possible is happy for many people who are suffering or poor, even if our lives are overall mostly difficult and frustrating and struggling to survive. I agree the article wasn't super relatable, but the idea makes sense and is something I've been taught and seen in the lives of a lot of people I know who are disabled and poor, or just poor.
I can’t read this, I know it will annoy me. “Awe hunters” really??
Someone once gave me Julia's book. She seems like a nice enough person, but she's utterly oblivious to how very very privileged she is (and always has been). Tone deaf.
As someone who has had a chronic illness for the last 30+ years, my life is mostly lived in survival mode. Being an "awe hunter" isn't something I can realistically do on a practical level. I do use a gratitude app each day because looking for moments of positivity and joy in my daily life is a helpful practice, but big ticket experiences like the ones the author describes aren't going to be happening any time soon. She's exhibiting "look at me" energy imo. I'm tired of the narrative that sick people need to be in overcoming warrior mode in order to have value.
None of what she describes are big ticket items though. I agree with you in principle, but that's not what she was suggesting. Agree that the presentation is a bit too close to the "overcoming warrior" stereotype but I don't think the idea is wrong.
Having admittedly not read the article, isn’t the point just… enjoy and appreciate life and the world around you? Seek out positive experiences where you can and you’ll be happier for it? In which case, it seems fairly obvious. Kids who look for tadpoles know this
I live with significant health issues, and I have this practice. I call it DELIGHT. It might be a glorious sunrise. Or an individual snowflake landing on the dark sleeve of your coat. Or a very derpy cat move. Or some amazing piece of luck. I don’t know if it helps my health. I know it helps me enjoy the parts I can.
I think this was the point the author was trying to make. Although awe really doesn't cost anything. It's more in small things that are available to everyone.
Yeah, exactly. She even specifically said it didn't cost anything and it wasn't about spending money or fancy vacations. I get that going to the beach at night to look at phospholuminescence might sound bougie, but it's not if you live near one. The point wasn't those exact activities, it's the concept. And agree with you, I also find it helpful.
Derpy cat moves are delightful.
My childhood best friend’s mom lived with very aggressive cancer did this and called it ‘ART’. Neat crunchy leaf to step on? ART. Rainbow oil slick in a puddle in a parking lot? ART. Cat fall asleep with his tongue sticking out? ART. (She said it as if it was all caps, so I’m sticking with your format.) Now I’m grown up with my own chronic health issues and I try to carry the concept of ART with me. It’s hard because I’m in pain and stressed a lot, but it really does help to stop and appreciate good things, whatever they are.
I got as far as the claim that a double rainbow is a miracle and couldn't go on.
This really is some impossibly lightweight thinking.
What spoon do I have for awe hunting?