Awe-Inspiring Talent and Skills With Glass and Canvas
Awe Practice: Awe-inspired by humans
Ability-based awe is thought to co-occur with admiration of a person’s “exceptional ability, talent, and skill.” — Greater Good Science Center
Glass
Awe-inspiring things that we see every day can lose a bit of impact on our feelings of awe, unless we take a moment to step back and analyze them again through fresh eyes. This goes for nature, art, music, and other human actions and abilities. This is especially true for the awe-inspiring people that are closest to us.
While recently visiting my parents I had an experience like this. I am used to seeing my mom’s work with glass and canvas. Although it is common to me, her skills and talents are actually outstanding. The lamp above and the lamp and window below are just a few examples of her glasswork. This is just a hobby, a hobby that requires an awesome amount of awe-inspiring skill and talent.
Canvas
I am also used to seeing my mom take a pile of deteriorating boat seats and transform it with new foam and new canvas to a beautifully restored creation. She has built a business around these skills and talent. Knowing that she was a teen mom that has worked extremely hard and experienced so much success is another source of awe that I have at times taken for granted.
Being used to something, allowing it to become common, can rob us of the feelings of awe that can be inspired by the humans around us. By taking a step back, we can rediscover those feelings. I did this by taking a tour of my mom’s canvas shop. Her work is awemazing.
Final Thoughts
Feelings of awe can be a powerful source to improve our mental and physical well-being. There are many sources of awe-inspiring experiences and awe practices to increase the amount of awe that we feel.
Sometimes we take more notice of the awemazing accomplishments of those that are in the spotlight, outside our own family and friends. The skills and talents of those that are closest to us are sometimes overlooked as they begin to feel common.
Take time, take note, celebrate, and be awed by the skills and talents of the people in your life.
(Note: My grandfather made the wooden shelves in the cover photo. Another source of awe-inspiring talent and skills.)
I also wrote about my dad’s skills and talents with wood.
Thanks for reading. I hope that everyone gains the benefits from feeling awe in the common and the uncommon.
If you would like to share your experiences of feeling awe, join us at For Awe!
