Lately, I’ve been sharing WOW! Moments from fancy schmancy places like Paris and the Amalfi Coast. (Croissants in Paris? No-brainer WOW! right there!) But here’s the thing: you don’t need a passport, a plane ticket, or a “vacation savings fund” to feel WOWed. Sometimes, WOW is waiting right outside your front door—or even inside your kitchen cupboard.
While updating my website recently I went down the rabbit hole of rereading every single post. The exercise turned out to be a great reminder of the small but mighty “micro WOWs” I’ve had over the past two years. Here are five of my favorites that you can easily replicate.
Play in the Rain
I’ve already confessed that I’m a recovering productivity junkie. My love language is a to-do list, and “achievement” is my middle name. (Actually, it’s Lynn, but I’m thinking of changing it.) So, stepping outside barefoot in the rain with zero agenda and zero umbrella felt wildly rebellious. But I did just that one stormy evening. I stood there, letting the water wash over me while I tuned into every sense—smell, sound, touch, sight, taste. Yes, rain has a taste. Sort of like earth worms with a splash of freedom. Did my neighbors think I’d lost it? Probably. Did I care? Not even a little. 10/10 recommend.
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
While rummaging through a box to find the photo I used for this post, I stumbled onto the kind of treasures you forget you own. Newspaper clippings from my six-year-old “Miss La Petit” pageant debut (first runner-up, thank you very much), tiny clay animals I made and sold as “Steffi’s Stuff” when I was eight, and a pile of cards from my late husband and kids. Suddenly, I wasn’t just looking for a picture; I was time traveling. And when I came back to the present, my heart felt full. Two thumbs up.
Go on a Wonder Walk
Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett usually keep me company on my walks. But one morning my AirPods were dead, so I ditched the Smartless guys and listened to my city instead. Oh, what a story it told. I wandered around my downtown before the shops opened, soaking in the colors of the potted plants, the sound of birds greeting each other good morning, and the smell of fresh coffee drifting from the café. By the time I got home, I hadn’t just stretched my legs; I’d stretched my gratitude for my hometown. Five stars.
Taste the Past
Someone brought date bars to a party I recently attended, and one bite sent me straight back to Christmas in my childhood kitchen. My mom, sister, and I made them every year in our annual bake-a-thon that also included chocolate chip cookies, fudge, toffee, peanut butter blossoms, and pecan tassies. (I just looked up the word “tassie” and found out it means “small tart.” Who knew?) Another time, a friend offered me Constant Comment tea, and suddenly I was five years old, perched in my Nana’s “Queen’s Chair,” sipping tea that was 90% milk, 10% actual tea. Sometimes WOW is as simple as a flavor that connects you to your past. Extremely satisfied.
Watch the Sunrise
Okay, yes, I cheated a little because this one technically happened in North Carolina. But hear me out: sunrises don’t require travel—just an alarm clock. My friend Diana and I met before dawn, huddled in the cool air. As the first sliver of sun crept over the mountain ridge, she whispered, “There it is.” Like we were waiting for Beyoncé to make her entrance. A sunrise is basically nature’s daily standing ovation. And most of us are still asleep for it. Pro tip: Google “best sunrise spots near me” and plan your own front-row seat. Must see TV.
Rereading these makes me want to plan a WOW do-over. How about you? I encourage you to start a WOW! Journal and see how many micro WOWs (WOW-tassie?) you can collect.
Stephanie, I SO appreciate your reminders to grab life with both hands!