The Secret Ingredient to a More Meaningful Life

To say I’m obsessed with travel might be the understatement of the century.

But why do some of us feel an insatiable pull to roam?
What is it we’re really chasing?

For me, it’s about more than passport stamps or bucket-list destinations. It’s about awe and wonder—the profound feelings that remind me how alive and deeply connected I am to the world.

There’s something sacred about being rendered speechless by the natural world. 

The first time I went snorkeling off Lanyu Island in Taiwan, the water was so clear it felt like swimming in liquid glass. Shoals of electric-blue fish darted past, their scales glinting like gemstones. I weaved between volcanic rock tunnels that felt like portals into another realm. I was immersed in a hidden universe—surreal, utterly magnificent.

That moment stilled me.

When Was the Last Time You Felt Truly Awestruck?

Awe catches our breath. Wonder keeps us asking questions.
They are two sides of the same coin—both awakening a deep awareness of our place in something far greater.

Think of a lightning strike, the delicate symmetry of a snowflake, or thousands of ants marching in perfect formation. Or something as simple as steam spiraling off hot springs, the iridescent sheen on a butterfly’s wing, or a shooting star streaking across the sky—brief enough to miss, yet powerful enough to hold a wish.

Children move through life with wonder in every step.
Remember how thrilling it was to chase bubbles? Or how a worm wriggling in the dirt could captivate you for minutes at a time?

Have you ever watched a toddler giggle uncontrollably at a shadow puppet on a wall? Pure, unfiltered joy from a patch of light and a wiggling hand. That’s the essence of awe: it doesn’t need to be grand. It just needs your attention.

You Don’t Need a Plane Ticket to Find Magic

Of course, you don’t need to travel across the globe to tap into this feeling.

There’s magic in the everyday.
The bud of a flower pushing through soil after winter. A friend’s voice on a bad day. The buttery light of late afternoon streaming across your floor. The way clouds shift and reshape themselves overhead—soft sculptures drifting through an endless sky, inviting your imagination to wander.

When we treat these ordinary things as extraordinary, they become tiny victories—gentle reminders that beauty is always within reach.

Small Moments That Shift Everything

Awe lives in the quiet margins of our day—if we’re open to it.

It’s the slow unfurling of a sunrise, painting the sky in strokes of lavender and gold. The rhythmic hush of waves collapsing onto the shore, a heartbeat made of water, scattering shells and smoothing footprints with each retreat. The way a child asks a question so unexpected and pure that it stops you in your tracks. 

It’s the comfort of a cup of tea as your hands wrap around the warmth. Sunlight piercing the last of storm clouds, painting a translucent ribbon of color above the rooftops, a rainbow so delicate it felt imagined.

Even a deep breath, taken with intention, can tether you to the present. Remind you that you're alive, that this moment matters.

So, Why Does This Matter?

Let’s be honest—life is hard. The world can feel heavy.

But moments of awe and wonder are the medicine. They remind us we’re still here, still capable of feeling, still capable of being moved.

In times of darkness, it’s not about pretending everything is fine. It’s about holding onto the flicker of light within. Awe doesn’t erase the pain, but it can offer moments of peace, clarity, and strength.

We grow, sometimes, not in sunlight—but in moonlight. Slowly. Quietly. Resiliently. 🌙 

Reflect With Me

✨ What tiny moment today made you pause, even briefly?

🌄 Where do you find beauty when things feel difficult?

🌿 Is there a place where your heart feels most at ease? What does it look like? What do you hear, smell, or touch there?

🌈 What part of the natural world never fails to move you, no matter how many times you encounter it? Why do you think that is?

I’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment below 👇—share your moments of awe or your favorite place in nature that’s taken your breath away.

Let’s remind each other of the wonder this world still holds.