December 4 – Wonder.

How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

I did this in a couple of different domains.  First, of course, I cultivated wonder through the lens of my 2-year-old sidekick.  Every new experience or sensation was sort of re-experienced by me through watching H grapple with the newness of everything around him.  It would be impossible to *not* cultivate a sense of wonder when you have a new soul in your midst.  Secondly, I tried to cultivate a sense of wonder in my students, and also in me, as I explored uncharted territory with my teaching, or as I familiarized myself with new ideas and concepts across my discipline (and others).  In all, though, I’d have to say that the sense of wonder cultivated through H is far more powerful and real than anything academic I’ve encountered to date.

December 3 – Moment.

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

This is a tough one.  I think the best moments (I can’t pick only one) were moments spent with H and R.  The hiking I did with H this year was spectacular; it was such a wonderful feeling to spend time with H, doing something that we love, working our butts off (literally), to end up with breath-taking views from the top.  Some of the special moments I had with H over the summer included some of the hikes we did just the two of us.  It felt special to have that time with him where I was the only person in the world that mattered to him, and I was all he needed in that moment.  I loved watching him make progress on the trail, learn what the blazes mean, and get excited for a well-deserved picnic break.  I hope he takes these types of moments with him into the future and cherishes these kinds of experiences in nature, surrounded by beauty, and the one person in the world who would do anything for you.