Embracing Awe and Wonder in Recovery
Awe is that breathtaking moment when something larger than ourselves captures our attention—when we pause, struck by an experience that shifts our perspective. It can be a breakthrough in recovery, a powerful conversation, or even a simple, unexpected moment.
Recently, I had two moments that beautifully illustrated both awe and wonder. One occurred at Woodhaven Academy, where Louis, our incredible teacher, integrated recovery into a lesson on Who Moved My Cheese? As the students connected the material to their own recovery journeys, I saw the curriculum come alive in real time. It wasn’t just about what we had created—it was about how they responded. Their engagement, their reflections, their emotional connections to the lesson were a testament to the vision behind our curriculum: an education that is both engaging and deeply relevant to recovery. Watching it resonate so profoundly was awe-inspiring—a realization of the vision we had worked so hard to bring to life over the past year and a half.
In the wake of moments like these, wonder follows. How can we create more of these experiences? How can we expand and deepen them? Wonder pushes us to seek, to explore, to refine. It’s what drives us forward.
Another awe-filled moment came when my husband and I visited a flamingo sanctuary. Watching these stunning birds, I was captivated by their elegance, their vibrant colors. I'll admit—I wasn’t sure if flamingos could fly, having only seen them in captivity. Then, five of them took flight right in front of us. It was breathtaking. And with awe came wonder: How do they soar with such ease? What gives them their grace? Wonder opens the door to deeper understanding, inviting us to ask, to learn.
Beyond their beauty, what struck me was their effortless transition from grounded stillness to soaring flight. A moment before, they walked elegantly around us; then, in an instant, they took to the sky—as if they were meant to all along. It reminded me of recovery. There’s a quiet build-up, a steady push forward, and then, suddenly, a moment of transformation. The wonder lies in the journey—how each small step, each shift, leads to that moment of flight.
Awe takes our breath away. It reminds us of something bigger than ourselves. It happens in a group session, when someone’s perspective shifts, or in a moment of insight that changes everything. These moments keep us moving forward, especially when the path feels uncertain. They remind us that change is happening, that recovery is real.
But not everyone experiences awe and wonder the same way. To feel them, we must be open, eager. Recovery requires that same openness—an openness to change, to growth, to inspiration. By staying curious and willing to embrace the unexpected, we invite awe into our lives. It’s not always easy to let ourselves be moved, but when we do, we begin to see the world differently.
Creating moments of awe begins when we allow ourselves to be moved by the beauty in the world—not just the joyful or familiar, but the breathtaking, perspective-shifting moments that stop us in our tracks. It might be the light breaking through clouds, a powerful breakthrough in a group, or a conversation that gently reveals something we hadn’t seen before. These are the “wow” moments—when something larger than us speaks through the ordinary. And it’s from that space that wonder begins to grow. Awe quiets us, reorients us, invites us to pause. And wonder carries us forward—it nudges us to stay curious, to keep asking, to keep seeking. The more we attune ourselves to the beauty that surrounds us, the more often these moments find their way in—and the more fully we come alive to life itself.
We invite awe into our lives when we recognize that the world around us is bigger than ourselves—and allow that truth to move us. When we soften our grip on certainty and control, we create space for something greater to enter. The colors of the sunrise, the quiet presence of another person’s story, the vastness of the sky—all of it can shift our perspective if we let it. Awe humbles us in the best way. It reminds us that we are part of something larger, something beyond our immediate view. And in that awareness, wonder begins to rise—not from needing answers, but from the desire to understand our world.
Awe and wonder fuel the recovery journey. They inspire us to ask, to explore, to grow. They remind us that there is always more to discover. Through them, we evolve—both in recovery and in life. Like the flamingos soaring into the sky, we, too, can rise above, finding strength in the moments that take our breath away and the wonder that leads us forward.
