awe: the places that stay with you

your micro-dose of awe for the day. exploring the multitude of positive effects of feeling awe and diving into places around the world that have spark awe. first stop, Antarctica.

where was the last place that took your breath away? when all there is to say is, "wow" that’s the place.

the other week, I was listening to this podcast which spoke about how experiencing awe in human life can lead to a plethora of positive effects boasting from from making us kinder, more creative, and more connected.

first, what is awe? described by Dacher Keltner, awe is the “feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world.” this feeling doesn’t just happen in nature, it can sparked by music, design, moral beauty, spiritual experiences, epiphanies, and life’s beginnings and endings.

for me, one of the profound awe-inducing experiences I have ever had took place moments before this photo.

setting up scene for arrival to Antarctica

this time last year, I was crossing the Drake Passage on the way down to Antarctica alongside 7 other crew members. we were making the journey to the ice continent to capture photo and video content for a cruise line. never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get the opportunity to visit Antarctica, yet here I was on this journey.

January 10, 2024 at 9:30AM, I remember I looked up for a moment while setting the table for our AM scene and look out to the horizon at what appeared to be a dense layer of clouds covering the horizon line. oh, was I wrong. the clouds were in fact, ice covered jagged peaks coming out of the ocean- I had first sights on Antarctica.

South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

i’ll never forget that moment as it completely took my breath away and moved me to tears. from the sounds of the sea ice cracking into the ocean to complete stillness - everyday was a complete sensory experience.

each day we spent sailing around antarctica kept getting better. it was as if I was experiencing an episode of ‘our planet’ IRL. from seeing hundreds of penguins jumping out of the water to dozens of orcas swimming by I was completely overwhelmed with this feeling of gratitude and awe. the loud speaker I heard the naturalist say, “only a million people have ever seen this place,” and that’s when I stopped in my tracks.

from South Shetland Islands to the Neumayer Channel there were multiple instances where I couldn’t believe what my eyes were getting to witness.

this planet we so fortunately get to inhabit is nothing short of spectacular and awe-inspiring. I’ll end with this challenge, where can you see the magic around you today to spark awe?

till the next stop!