I find awe in the places that just aren't for people. Around the coast, there are often those little rock stacks that are home to hundreds or thousands of seabirds, but the sea around them is far too rough for a human to swim to them and climb up on. There's nowhere that a helicopter could land, and while, theoretically, you could lower someone down from a helicopter down on a rope, they'd then be trying to get a grip on unstable rock and bird poo, so even that's bordering on impossible. Yet there are plants and animals making them their home. I find that kind of thing fills me with awe.
I also love rain! Especially walking in the rain. One thing I'm perennially curious about (I wanted to write about this in my book on walking but couldn't think of a way to fit it in so didn't end up researching it) was if our skin has been de-evolving. I can't count the number of times people cancel walks with me because it's raining or windy or a tiny bit too cold or hot. My kids have become hardened, but many others seem to be very sensitive to the slightest skin discomfort, and I even wonder about myself. Anyway. Yay to more awe and amazing-ness!
I want to suggest an update of the substack app. When reading Mike Snowden I consistently want to highlight some text and either express a “like” or leave a comment, but there isn’t such a functionality.
Quote:
“I used to think that the opposite of curiosity was “being incurious” (plus, always complaining you’re bored). In fact, it isn’t. It’s hopelessness. “
*LIKE*
Comment: this is profound. I’m deeply curious and I always believe that everything is possible. This statement connects indissolubly the two. That’s really awesome (in the sense you mention in another post of yours, it really puts me in a state of awe)
I find awe in the places that just aren't for people. Around the coast, there are often those little rock stacks that are home to hundreds or thousands of seabirds, but the sea around them is far too rough for a human to swim to them and climb up on. There's nowhere that a helicopter could land, and while, theoretically, you could lower someone down from a helicopter down on a rope, they'd then be trying to get a grip on unstable rock and bird poo, so even that's bordering on impossible. Yet there are plants and animals making them their home. I find that kind of thing fills me with awe.
I also love rain! Especially walking in the rain. One thing I'm perennially curious about (I wanted to write about this in my book on walking but couldn't think of a way to fit it in so didn't end up researching it) was if our skin has been de-evolving. I can't count the number of times people cancel walks with me because it's raining or windy or a tiny bit too cold or hot. My kids have become hardened, but many others seem to be very sensitive to the slightest skin discomfort, and I even wonder about myself. Anyway. Yay to more awe and amazing-ness!
I want to suggest an update of the substack app. When reading Mike Snowden I consistently want to highlight some text and either express a “like” or leave a comment, but there isn’t such a functionality.
Quote:
“I used to think that the opposite of curiosity was “being incurious” (plus, always complaining you’re bored). In fact, it isn’t. It’s hopelessness. “
*LIKE*
Comment: this is profound. I’m deeply curious and I always believe that everything is possible. This statement connects indissolubly the two. That’s really awesome (in the sense you mention in another post of yours, it really puts me in a state of awe)
Thanks!!!