Appreciate Man-Made Wonders

Because Human Potential is Limitless

First, we discovered gunpowder. Then, we made it into art.

I've loved fireworks for as long as I can remember. I grew up on a house on a hill in a small town in Pennsylvania. and every year without fail, the whole neighborhood migrated from their homes to the top of the hill, setting out blankets and lawn chairs, and bringing radios which would all be tuned to exactly the same station — the one which played music for the next hour which the fireworks show had been choreographed to.

The adults brought coffee mugs filled with mysterious liquid that really didn't smell like coffee. The kids brought sparklers and ran around tracing patterns in the night sky until each one fizzled out into disappointing silence.

From the top of the hill, we had an incredible view of the fireworks launching off from the local football stadium. And with as many as a dozen radios scattered amongst the crowd, we were surrounded by the music and the almost equally choreographed "ooh", "awww", and "wow!" coming from the gathered crowd.

What is Awe?

Awe is a feeling of profound admiration or respect which can be inspired by fear or wonder. Most people experience awe infrequently, but some have unlocked the code to feel it daily simply by reframing their mindset.

When you remind yourself of all of the random and unlikely coincidences that had to occur in order for you to be here today with the world in its present state, even your everyday circumstances can inspire a little awe.

There are a few different types of awe in the world.

• The awe of great creations, such as works of art and ancient architecture.
• The awe of a parent observing the child that they brought into existence
• The awe of witnessing great skill or moral virtue.
• The awe of a large group gathering to observe or participate in something in unison.

A fireworks display usually involves at least two of these: great creations and a gathering in unison, but it could be argued to also be a display of skill, depending on the quality of the fireworks show.

Another example of this type of awe is in the recent total solar eclipse, which was for me a reminder of how small we are in the grand context of the universe. The worst things that could potentially happen if we try to chase our dreams and fail are still nothing in this grand context, so effectively we have nothing to lose.

Why Would You Want to Feel Awe-full?

Feeling a little awe once in a while helps to reset our mental state and give us perspective. Experiencing it routinely decreases depression and anxiety, increases motivation, and helps you to build stronger relationships with the people around you.

What I find most incredible about fireworks, besides these already-inspiring qualities is that they come from something that at one point had the sole purpose of destruction.

We took an early form of gunpowder — charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter — and despite the incredible destructive power of the creation, someone said, "Let's shoot it harmlessly into the sky and add pretty colors".[^1]

Knowing that this is the kind of thing that humans do, make beautiful things just because we can, is an inspiration. It's why every year in early July, I seek out a local fireworks show and make arrangements to see them with a group of my closest friends and a few thousand strangers.

This tradition is important not only for its historical significance, but also for the feeling of unison with the people around me and for the feats of engineering prowess that made it possible.

[1]: This is not a historical quote, but a speculation on what might have happened.