Awe in the everyday

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This summer, I traveled through Europe for the first time—Italy, France, and Spain. Everything felt new and exciting.

New architecture.

New languages.

New food.

Every corner I turned brought a sense of wonder and awe.

But when I flew back to America, that feeling seemed to fade.

Back home, everything felt familiar. Normal.

Even moving into a new apartment in Chicago—a city I had never lived in before—didn’t spark the same inspiration. My mind told me this was “normal life.”

But here’s the truth: life is never normal.

Waking up each day, choosing how to live, and shaping what you experience is awe-inspiring in itself.

It shouldn’t take an expensive vacation to remind us of life’s beauty. The sun sets in America just as it does in Spain. Chicago skyscrapers can be just as breathtaking as cathedrals in Italy—if we choose to see them that way.

And the same applies to work.

Starting a new job, project, or venture is exciting because it’s fresh. But over time, routine sets in, and the spark can fade.

When that happens, remember why you started.

You get to work on meaningful problems. And if those problems become too easy, automate your solution and move on to bigger ones.

There are endless challenges in the world. Saying you’re “bored” is really saying:

So next time life feels dull, take a fresh look at what you’re doing.

Revisit the spark that first drew you in.

And never forget: life itself is beautiful.

🌱 This week’s step worth taking

Pick one part of your daily routine that usually feels dull, and try to see it with fresh eyes. Notice the details, and appreciate it for what it adds to your life.

📚 Worth the Read

• 22 Uplifting Quotes That Will Inspire You to Notice More Beauty in Your Life by Sally Harris — there are some gems in there 💎

🔄 Misstep of the week

I’ve caught myself stalling right before the finish line. One small inconvenience while working—like writing this newsletter—can throw me off track and double the time it takes to finish. I need to stay focused and see things through to the end.

🙌 Step Spotlight

Mixing it up this week… our spotlight has been taking a lot more steps than usual—probably because she has four legs.

Meet Bella, my parents’ new dog! 🐶 I got to meet her this weekend, and she’s way too cute not to share. Bella’s been busy exploring the world, wagging through new adventures, and spreading joy to everyone she meets.

Looking forward to plenty more tail wags and happy moments with Bella

Want to be featured in next week’s Step Spotlight? Respond to this issue with a step you’ve taken that you’re proud of.

Until next week.

Step by step,

Nathan

P.S. Here is a graph showing my productivity while writing this

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