Finding Hope in Awe: One Woman’s Journey Through Grief and Wonder
In an age where headlines often scream despair and darkness, one woman’s journey reveals how pockets of wonder can help us navigate through life’s challenges, even in our most turbulent times.
Deborah Farmer Kris, a child development expert and author, experienced profound loss when her father passed away at the age of thirty-one. Struck by grief, she ventured out into the cold December air, where the world mirrored her emotional turmoil. But amidst the chill, something unexpected caught her eye: a single rosebud on a scraggly bush, defiantly blooming in winter.
“I laughed aloud,” Farmer Kris recalled. “A rose blooming in winter? And then I started to cry—for the wondrous absurdity of a tiny, lovely thing proclaiming its place in a dark world.” This moment sparked a realization: her heart still had space for wonder, despite the grasp of grief.
For the past three years, Farmer Kris has dedicated herself to studying the emotion of awe. “Awe doesn’t require anything from us but our attention,” she explained in a recent interview. “You just have to show up in the world, eyes and ears open.”
In her new initiative, “365 Days of Wonder,” she started keeping an awe diary inspired by her late grandmother, who meticulously documented her life in short notes. Farmer Kris appreciates that small observations, like the first note about President Carter’s funeral or a shared laugh with teenagers over fortune cookies, weave a tapestry of meaningful moments that sparkle amidst life’s challenges.
As this year unfolds, Farmer Kris continues to document her experiences of awe. One entry reflects the joy of seeing a border collie greet its owner with unrestrained joy, while another recounts her daughter’s heartfelt gratitude toward supporters of a community project.
“I didn’t need my Merlin app to identify woodpeckers today,” she wrote in a recent entry. “At least three were rattling the neighborhood at dawn.” A simple moment transformed into a captivating memory amidst everyday life.
Farmer Kris emphasizes that seeking out wonder fosters resilience. “These moments don’t fix what hurts. But they whisper, ‘This world is hard. And this world is so, so wonderful,’” she said, reinforcing the idea that even when everything seems bleak, there are still glimpses of beauty and light.
Through her journey of grief and rediscovery, Deborah Farmer Kris teaches us that awe can coexist with sorrow. As we navigate our own stories filled with loss and heartache, she reminds us to keep our eyes open, for the world is full of wonder waiting to be noticed—much like that lone rosebud daring to bloom in winter.
In a time when despair often dominates the narrative, Farmer Kris offers a gentle nudge to let curiosity and appreciation guide us forward. After all, amid the chaos, perhaps we can still find solace in love, laughter, and the beautiful absurdity of life.