{"id":18181,"date":"2024-10-09T14:28:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T21:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/?p=18181"},"modified":"2024-12-19T20:41:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T03:41:34","slug":"finding-awe-at-74-a-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/golf\/lifestyle\/18181\/finding-awe-at-74-a-journey","title":{"rendered":"Finding Awe at 74: A Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"DC10B8CF-D049-42FC-979A-27C514F89BB6_1_105_c\"\u00a0 <\/b><\/b><\/div>\n
Author Dr. Bob Fagan at a site of Awe\u00a0 — Pebble Beach, California<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/div>\n
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At 74, I\u2019ve watched the seasons change countless times. I\u2019ve seen the world evolve, technology advance, and people age alongside me. I\u2019ve listened to stories of my elders about the first airplanes and automobiles while now marveling at the possibilities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence. You might think that by this age, little would surprise me. But the truth is, I\u2019m constantly reminded that life has a way of presenting new wonders if you keep your heart open to them. Finding awe in new experiences is one of the most rewarding aspects at this stage of life, and it\u2019s something I\u2019ve come to cherish deeply.<\/span><\/div>\n
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In my younger years, awe came easily. The first time I saw the ocean, held my children, or set foot on unfamiliar lands\u2014each of these moments was imprinted in my memory as times of pure wonder. But as we age, it\u2019s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we\u2019ve seen it all before. Often, life’s freshness fades, replaced by routine and familiarity. Yet, I\u2019ve learned that even in these later years, there are endless opportunities to rediscover awe and experience life with fresh eyes.<\/span><\/div>\n
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For me, it started with something simple: picking up a camera. I decided to try photography. At first, it felt awkward\u2014what business did I have learning something so technical at my age? But as I began framing shots, capturing light and shadow, different perspectives, and freezing moments in time, I found myself filled with a deep sense of wonder. I soon discovered that editing images is an art unto itself. It wasn\u2019t about creating perfect photos. Taking close-ups revealed tiny new worlds that had always been right in front of me, unnoticed. It has been about the thrill of seeing the world differently, noticing the small, often overlooked details that make everyday life extraordinary. Through the lens of a camera, I discovered a whole new way to connect with the world around me, and that, in itself, was awe-inspiring.<\/span><\/div>\n
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One of the great gifts of aging is realizing that life no longer has to be about mastery. When we were young, we had expectations for how life would unfold. There was so much pressure to excel at everything. But now, in these later years, I\u2019ve found that the true beauty lies in simply trying something new for the joy of it. Whether it\u2019s photography, gardening, or learning to play the guitar, the act of engaging with something unfamiliar brings a childlike joy. It reminds me that no matter how old I get, there are always new avenues for wonder.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Beyond hobbies, I\u2019ve found awe in relationships\u2014especially in meeting new people. As I\u2019ve grown older, I\u2019ve become more fascinated by the stories of others, particularly those from different walks of life. Every conversation reminds me that everyone carries a unique perspective, a distinct history. Even at 74, there are new friendships to form, new people to learn from, and new ways to see the world. Each story I hear opens my mind to something I hadn\u2019t considered before, and that fills me with awe.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Travel has also taken on a new meaning for me. It\u2019s no longer about far-flung destinations anymore; instead, I\u2019ve found awe in discovering the hidden corners of places I thought I knew well. I\u2019ve become a tourist in my own town. A walk on a nearby beach or a visit to a local museum now fills me with the same excitement that a distant trip once brought me decades ago. It\u2019s about seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and noticing the details I once overlooked.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Finding awe is less about seeking the extraordinary and more about shifting perspective. Life still offers wonders, both big and small. The key is to approach each day with curiosity and openness, knowing that the world holds surprises for those willing to see them. At 74, I\u2019ve realized that life isn\u2019t about reaching the end of the road; it\u2019s about discovering that there are always new paths to explore. And in that exploration, I\u2019ve rediscovered the awe that makes life truly worth living.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Bob Fagan spent most of his career turning around struggling operations. He later transitioned into\u00a0 coaching and mentoring, and recently authored the book “The Little Book of Questions That Matter \u2013 A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.” He<\/i>\u00a0is currently finishing “Feel Better Now! \u2013 Elder Wisdom For All Ages.”<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0 Author Dr. Bob Fagan at a site of Awe\u00a0 — Pebble Beach, California \u00a0 At 74, I\u2019ve watched the… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":18234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2107,2109,18],"tags":[1046278,2719,251794,1044338,1044348,1044353,1044354],"class_list":["post-18181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coaching","category-life-coaching","category-lifestyle","tag-life-coaching","tag-bob-fagan","tag-photography","tag-chip-conley","tag-awe","tag-mea","tag-new-experiences"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2024\/09\/DC10B8CF-D049-42FC-979A-27C514F89BB6_1_105_c.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18181"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18698,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18181\/revisions\/18698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}