Hello, all. Wishing you a meaningful Zos Chanukah.
On each night of Chanukah, I find myself mesmerized by the halo of light surrounding each flame. Despite the relative smallness of the flames, this feels like an experience of awe. Awe is the emotion we experience in the presence of vastness – physical, conceptual, or emotional. It puts things in perspective and helps us feel more hopeful and positive. Research shows that taking a 15-minute walk each day to look for sources of awe (however ordinary) reduces stress and increases resilience and a host of positive emotions (in addition to awe and even when you’re not on your walk).
We can find awe in creativity, beauty, nature, in looking at a child, in beholding other people’s kindness, generosity, or proud accomplishments. In How to Winter, Kari Leibowitz points out that if we can become more sensitive to the presence of awe in winter, when it’s cold and dark, we will get better at experiencing awe the rest of the year.
Wishing you a warm and pleasant week ahead and a winter filled with moments of awe!
