Wow, Bow, Chow. 3 words that changed my relationships

Summer camp trick, to life skill.

These three words, or non-words… have improved my relationships, saved me from awkward silences, and allowed me to reflect on myself in unexpected ways.

At Camp Kesem, asking each camper what their Wow, Bow, and Chow are is an easy and fun way of getting the campers to reflect on their day and a (borderline essential) way for counselors to get insight into how the campers are feeling and what might need to be done to make sure that every camper has the best experience possible.

It works the same way for adults.

This article will cover:

1. What do Wow, Bow, and Chow mean?

2. When do you use them?

3. What is the outcome?

What do Wow, Bow, and Chow mean?

Wow = Best thing that happened

Bow = Something that could have gone better

Chow = Most delicious food

Time period is adjustable. (ie. What was your Wow of the trip? Bow of the day? Chow of the week?)

When do you use them?

Short answer, all the time.

The light hearted nature of asking someone what their “Bow of the day” was makes for an easy conversation starter in virtually any situation. Here are a few that come to mind:

• With your partner
• On a trip
• At a bar
• Drinking wine with your friends
• Family dinner

My boyfriend and I (who both happened to be counselors for Camp Kesem), have made it a habit to ask each other what our Wow, Bow, and Chow are at least once a week, if not more often. This inspires deep and meaningful conversations between us about why those moments stood out and how we can support one another in an intentional way.

My favorite time to ask these 3 questions is on a trip. At the end of every single day, thinking about the best thing that happened can help you to hold onto your favorite memories. It is not uncommon that the memories that stand out to me the most, no matter how small, are the ones that I deemed as my wow of the day. ~Level up by writing down everyone’s Wow each night. ~

On the flip side, it can also be a critical way to turn the trip around. If someone in the group says that their “Bow of the day” was all the sand that got into their stuff then maybe you plan to head into town instead of spending another day at the beach.

What is the outcome?

To put it simply, the outcome is better relationships with yourself and others.

These three silly little words can give you a glimpse into how others experience the same situations or allow you to peek into the meaningful moments of someone else’s life. You will be surprised with the answers that you get from even your close friends. This exercise has taught me that no matter how well you know someone, this question will give you a deep look into their perspective on life.

Simultaneously, the act of reflecting on your own emotions towards events happening can be a powerful way of becoming in touch with your life. As someone who struggles to journal, writing down and sharing my Wow, Bow, and Chow, have been an accessible way to reflect.

Now don’t take my word for it! Next time you find yourself awkwardly staring at someone unsure of what to say or feeling distanced from someone close to you, ask them “What is your Wow, Bow, Chow this week?”