Lets delve into the details, observations and stories of nature to spark curiosity and connect to the natural world
Wonder
Our Pond
We recently added a small pond to our yard. It was sort of an accident, but we absolutely LOVE having it. It has been a source of wonder and joy.
Much needed right now. I am distressed by what is going on in the country and world these days. There is a prevalence of fear, uncertainty and cruelty that pulls me down.
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Yet I am buoyed by the gifts of the pond.
The pond is about 4ft by 3ft, about 20” deep. Almost immediately after creating it, a raccoon family began visiting at night. Very cute! (We had to get a trail cam to see what happened at the pond when we were sleeping….) Here are some of the videos and an adorable photo of raccoon butts.
We were told we should find some mosquito fish in ditches or other ponds and felt quite accomplished when we brought 5 home from a neighborhood ditch.
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The lily pad flowers are beautiful. They only last a day or two, but appear out of nowhere and rise above everything else.
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Soon we saw several frogs (we think they are Carpenter Frogs) sitting on the lily pads during the day. How did they find our little pond?​
Not long after, we discovered frog eggs floating on the water.
We hope to have tadpoles soon. And dragonflies. Wouldn’t it be cool to have more dragonflies in the yard?!
Our feelings for this little pond and all it brought into our yard surprised me. Why does it make me smile to think about, excited to wander out to discover what is happening in it today? Why did we rearrange the furniture on the screened porch so we were looking at the pond?
Because of the Wonder of it All
Well, it turns out that wonder, a positive emotion characterized by feelings of surprise, curiosity, and awe when encountering something novel or beyond current understanding, is beneficial to our social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Research has linked wonder to increased prosocial behavior, greater life satisfaction, and better health outcomes.
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There is a 2021 Harvard Business Review article, “Why You Need to Protect Your Sense of Wonder - Especially Now”, by David P Fessell and Karen Reivich. This article presents the case for seeking out Awe Moments. (click on the underlined title to go to the article.)
Canyonlands National Park
“At its core, awe has an element of vastness that makes us feel small; this tends to decrease our mental chatter and worries and helps us think about ideas, issues, and people outside of ourselves, improving creativity and collaboration as well as energy.”
Angel Oak
Jonah Paquette wrote a book, Awestruck, about the benefits to our health and happiness and gives suggestions for cultivating awe in our lives.
Here is Paquette giving a TED Talk on this topic.
Watersheds of the US
Seek Moments of Wonder
Rachel Carson wrote a wonderful book about walking with her young nephew through nature, observing the the strange plants, tidal pools, storm clouds, and the miracles of nature.
Sundew carnivorous plant
Polyphemous Moth
“If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.” - Rachel Carson
If there is a young child in your life, watch the growth that takes place in their minds, in their social and emotional development.
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Watch an amazing athletic accomplishment. Listen to an inspiring TED talk.
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Listen to a piece of music that gives you goosebumps. Look at art that transports you. Read poetry that touches your heart.
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When I was younger I surfed my kayak and for several years this was my go to video when I needed to boost my spirit (I never surfed this well or in this location!) Turn up the volume.
And of course, because I am who I am....
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Take a walk in nature and notice some of the small details that you have missed before.
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Come across a gathering of butterflies on a dirt road.
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Watch an osprey do aerial acrobatics.
Follow naturalists and be amazed at their observations.
“Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius.”
“As the exploration is pressed, it will engage more of the things close to the human heart and spirit.” - Edward O Wilson
Seek Out Wonder. It'll be worth the effort.
One More Story
I want to leave you with the migration story of one particular bird. Every time I think of what it does, my mind blows up (in a good way). How is this possible??!!??
We have all heard stories of the thousands of miles certain birds migrate from the south Atlantic to the northern arctic tundra each year to reproduce. Some fly several thousand miles without landing, without eating, without rest. Their endurance and navigational skills are amazing.
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But there is more to the bar-tailed godwit's story.
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Adult bar-tailed godwits fly from New Zealand north to Alaska tundras above the arctic circle, raise a family, then fly back across the open waters of the Pacific Ocean to new Zealand.
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Scientists recently captured a world record flight with satellite tracking technology by one bar-tailed godwit. It flew (constant flapping) 8,435 miles, nonstop, taking 11 days, from Alaska to New Zealand.
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Amazing, but I am getting ahead of myself….
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Once in the arctic, the adults find mates, build nests, lay eggs and keep those eggs safe until they hatch. The new chicks grow, fledge and start learning to forage from their parents. They are still a bit chunky to fly any distance and don’t have their full flight feathers yet.
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But one morning, the parents decide it is time for them to fly back to their winter home in New Zealand. And they leave the chicks!
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The fledglings spend a few more weeks growing up and getting stronger.
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Then, this is the mind-blowing part, the birds which were born in Alaska just months ago, take flight (usually in small flocks) and fly south across the open waters to New Zealand!!
How do they find it? Did the adults leave a map somewhere? Its not easy to simply fly south and end up in the right place. The Pacific is big!
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And that world record I mentioned above. That was one of these juveniles that was born just 4 months earlier! And there were no adults with her.
I’m still amazed. I feel that sense of wonder - feelings of surprise, curiosity, and awe when encountering something novel or beyond current understanding. I feel connected to you, as you feel this same sense of wonder. I am grateful for a connection to nature and this amazing bird. I consider what is real and true that I still have yet to learn.
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I smile and feel joy.