Gaining Clarity and Understanding

Watching the Seals and Sea Lions in La Jolla, California

At the moment you are most in awe of all there is about life that you don’t understand, you are closer to understanding it all than at any other time. — Jane Wagner

Nature at La Jolla Cove

Tourists flock to La Jolla Cove to enjoy the Pacific Ocean, beach, flowers, rock formations, gulls, pelicans, sea lions, and seals. The seals and sea lions are the draw for most.

Unlike most, I was in no rush. I had been warned that the smell was nearly unbearable. I found many photo opportunities as I made my way slowly down the shoreline. The views were breathtaking. The seals and sea lions would wait.

The Seals and Sea Lions

Finally, I joined the crowds to see the seals and sea lions. Luckily, it was a chilly day so there was not much to smell.

I was surprised this became my greatest moment of awe at La Jolla Cove. Each time I look at the images below, it brings back the feelings of awe that I experienced at that moment.

At first, there were seals and sea lions just sitting, sliding around, and sunning themselves. The crowds were entertained by their humorous behaviors. The way they communicated and interacted with each other and moved their large awkward bodies on the rocks and in the sea was impressive. Everyone was captivated.

Then, maybe they were alerted by a gull or pelican that flew by. Maybe there were vibrations traveling through the ocean that tipped them off to the impending situation. Or, maybe they all of a sudden seemed to be getting ready for something to happen, just by coincidence.

The one in the front and a couple of the others stood up quickly and faced forward in a strong stance, as quickly as those unwieldy bodies can move on a solid surface. The one in the back turned for a sliding escape.

That’s when it came. The big wave. Crash. Not a soft rolling splash with a gentle spray, as the others seemed to be. There was another level of intensity unveiled, full power unleashed. This one pummeled them with unbearable force.

It was unclear if any of them could hold their ground. They were all completely submerged for a few very long seconds.

A couple of bumps became visible as the wave broke and rolled on. Was it just the rock peeking through the sloshing white foam?

As the water receded, it seemed there may have been one lone soul still on top of the rock.

Yes. Just one remained, not quite in the same position, but it was still there. There were a few bobbing around nearby.

Seals and sea lions don’t spend their days just bobbing around and basking in the sun. I gained so much more respect for life in the sea. It is harder than I could possibly imagine.

Quickly, my admiration for these fun friends washed away, drowned in the questions that filled my mind. The power of the ocean and the animals that survive there no longer fit into my mental map. It was all inconceivable at that moment.

The wonder was accompanied by awe. Time seemed to stop. The crowds seemed to disappear. My long-held vision of the ocean, with peaceful rolling waves, exploded with the intense power I just witnessed. I felt so small. The scientific facts that I knew, the ocean scenes I imagined, and the reality that was in front of me were all sloshing around in my mind. They didn’t fit together.

Clarity and Understanding

Experiencing awe can shake up our frame of reference and remind us of what is real and what is important.

From watching this experience with the seals and sea lions I was reminded, the natural forces of the world proceed with or without us, at their own pace. Behind the beauty and wonder, there is awesome power too. We have little, to no control, over the natural world.

As humans, we are blessed with the capability to wonder, appreciate, and feel awe. We also have a responsibility to protect our awesome planet.

What moments of awe have brought you calirty?

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone gets outside and explores all that the natural world has to offer — the more we appreciate it, the more clarity we will gain about our responsibility to protect it.

Science suggests the benefits of awe increase when we write and share our experiences. Check out the other Awe Practices and Prompts and share your stories: