I really do believe that it’s the little things in life that make it beautiful. Being curious about and appreciating seemingly small moments or objects or ideas has brought me joy in many situations that appeared really negative at first.
There are many things I find wondrous, our ever-expanding universe, the network of communication between trees, literally anything that has to do with wildlife, how the human brain works, and the fact that ice cream happens to be invented at the same time I’m breathing (thank God). I could talk about these and countless other subjects for ages, but a more specific example of something that fills me with wonder is koi fish.
At my college, there is a small garden with a tiny koi pond tucked against the edge of campus. If I need solitude, to clear my thoughts, or to recenter and focus my mind I head there to watch the fish. Something about the sound of the water splashing from the miniature waterfall into the dark, lilypad-filled water instantly makes my stress melt away, but the best is yet to come. In that dark water, there live about thirty koi. They come in all types of colors, some are bright, shimmering golds, others are fiery oranges or bright white. They look out of place. Their luminous scales contrasting with the murky water. When they swim, moving in gentle circles and quick darting motions, their fins sway in the water and their scales catch the sunlight. It’s mesmerizing. I can sit and watch them for ages, letting my troubles sink like the sediment trails they leave behind. They look so effortless, so alive, their colors are like a protest against any negative thoughts in my head. It’s impossible for me to feel anything but peace and wonder when I watch them.
Elizabeth Tsang, Virginia
Wildlife Biologist
There are many things I find wondrous, our ever-expanding universe, the network of communication between trees, literally anything that has to do with wildlife, how the human brain works, and the fact that ice cream happens to be invented at the same time I’m breathing (thank God). I could talk about these and countless other subjects for ages, but a more specific example of something that fills me with wonder is koi fish.
At my college, there is a small garden with a tiny koi pond tucked against the edge of campus. If I need solitude, to clear my thoughts, or to recenter and focus my mind I head there to watch the fish. Something about the sound of the water splashing from the miniature waterfall into the dark, lilypad-filled water instantly makes my stress melt away, but the best is yet to come. In that dark water, there live about thirty koi. They come in all types of colors, some are bright, shimmering golds, others are fiery oranges or bright white. They look out of place. Their luminous scales contrasting with the murky water. When they swim, moving in gentle circles and quick darting motions, their fins sway in the water and their scales catch the sunlight. It’s mesmerizing. I can sit and watch them for ages, letting my troubles sink like the sediment trails they leave behind. They look so effortless, so alive, their colors are like a protest against any negative thoughts in my head. It’s impossible for me to feel anything but peace and wonder when I watch them.
Elizabeth Tsang, Virginia
Wildlife Biologist