Routines and Moments of Awe
As 2017 was coming to a close, my best friend suggested that I spend the next year searching for moments of awe. That suggestion was actually the impetus for this blog. Because I’m a visual person, my original intent was to look for scenic vistas that took my breath away and try to capture those moments in photographs. But as I reflect on the completion of another calendar year, I’m realizing that moments of awe are not just the picture-perfect instances that capture my attention, but they also include moments that occur in an otherwise typical and sometimes mundane day.
As countless individuals have already lamented, 2020 is a year unlike any in several generations. It’s marked by extreme loss for many – loss of loved ones, health, and economic stability. Much of what would have been considered typical and mundane just 11 months ago has been overtaken by a new reality – one in which uncertainty is the predominant factor.
Research has shown that most humans crave stability and dependability because our brains and our bodies perform better by following a regular schedule. Building a routine can alleviate stress and anxiety.
Like so many others, my “new routine” looks different than it did a few months ago, and in many ways is even better. These days, I usually wake up around 6 a.m. Age has probably robbed me of the days when I could sleep until mid-morning on weekends. Pre-Covid-19, my alarm would ring at 4:00 a.m. after a restless night, and I would get out of bed and spend 2 hours getting ready for work. Instead, I now wake up without an alarm and read The New York Times online. Then I dress and leave my apartment for a pre-dawn run/walk. Disclaimer: I am not a runner, never have been. At 62 ½, the probability that I will ever be a runner is less than 0.00001%!
Yet, I am loving my morning combination of running for a few yards then walking. It’s during these times that I’m not only awed visually by the morning lights, but my other senses have heightened. I love the chill of the crisp Fall air as it hits the only uncovered part of my face as I step out the door. I love the sounds – of traffic carrying essential workers to their job and whistles from the DART trains, mixed with birds chirping in the trees along the Katy Trail. I love the smells trickling from restaurants as staff begin preparing menu items for the day. I love the anticipation of the Strawberry Acai Refresher that is waiting for me at Starbucks at the end of each run/walk. I love the tart taste on my tongue as it slides down my throat. I love the sense of satisfaction I feel as I walk back into my apartment.
Every time I see, hear, smell, or taste a moment of awe, I think about my best friend, who has taught me to lean in and feel all experiences. It’s been 10 months since we’ve been in the same space; 10 months since I’ve felt her hugs. I look forward to the day when we can safely be together again. Until then, you are always in my heart, Carolyn!
