In defense of awe and wonder

Kayla Wilkinson
Nov 3 · 2 min read

Hi from 25 – 32

I had a moment the other day when I felt as strong a sense of “starstruck” as I have in a long time, probably since I was in middle school and met Freddy Adu at our local high school’s women’s soccer game. I was honestly taken aback a bit to be in close proximity to someone I admire and consider the standard of sorts in terms of being both a professional woman and a human being. And no, Wazza has nothing to do with this, I just needed a semi-relevant picture.

I love the industry in which I work, but sometimes it dilutes the marvel of certain moments. For some people it seems as though an absence of awe and wonder is like a badge of honor. I’ve been in these scenarios so much that these uber-successful people don’t make me take pause, these historic moments don’t move me, these unique opportunities don’t stir me, yadda yadda. And if you do take pause or are moved or stirred then you’re a wet-behind-the-ears novice.

If experienced has become synonymous with dulled then maybe I don’t want to be “experienced.” I want to continuously have those small moments consumed by awe and wonder and marvel. I don’t want to stop getting chills or thinking “holy shit, this is cool.” It’s not a badge of honor or an impressive accomplishment to be completely detached and nonchalant about anything cool or interesting or beautiful with which you come face-to-face. Obviously professionalism and poise matter in a work setting, but give me someone who feels that awe and wonder burning in their belly, not someone who doesn’t give it a second thought.

And it’s not only a work-related thought. It reminds me of being in New Zealand and doing a tramp that someone on the group had already done. We reach the highest point of this incredible range, and it was old news to them. It was like their interest in and appreciation of the stunning scenery had already been spent.

Maybe some people are wired with a finite supply of awe and wonder, and once they’ve been taken aback once by something, that quota has been fulfilled. Maybe they feel cooler being unfazed. But I’ll take the person who feels, who has an infinite well of “this is cool” moments. Maybe we can all be that person, it’s just about moving through the world with a certain lens.


I’ll be writing once per week throughout 25 about anything/everything. Let’s get weird. Follow here.

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