I recently read an article on Medscape that discussed the benefits of moments of awe. They defined awe as having two elements: perceived vastness (sensing something larger than ourselves), and accommodation (our need to process and understand that vastness). The author illustrated the piece with spectacular photos of natural beauty.

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I wanted to send out an email about this inspirational article, but had a hard time distilling the concepts. Then, I realized that sitting in front of a computer on one of most beautiful days Austin, Texas has had in months did not honor the principles I was trying to describe. I shut down my computer and went for a walk, admiring a hummingbird and a butterfly along the way, and becoming awestruck by a massive tree that I have seen before, but never really appreciated until now.

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Photo by TimHill on Pixnio

Here's the original Medscape article about awe:

You can also check out the website Park rX America, about the health benefits of spending time in nature.

But first, I recommend going for a walk!