Awe is the feeling you get when something is so impressive, powerful, or beautiful that it almost overwhelms you. It's that catch in your breath when you see the Grand Canyon for the first time, or stand beneath a massive redwood tree that's been growing for a thousand years, or watch a total solar eclipse darken the sky.

Awe makes you feel small in a good way. It reminds you that the world contains things far greater than yourself. You might feel awe watching a thunderstorm roll across the plains, seeing the Milky Way on a dark night far from city lights, or standing in a great cathedral where light pours through stained glass windows.

You might feel awestruck by something frightening, like a tornado, or by something wonderful, like a meteor shower. Today, we usually mean the good kind: that mixture of wonder, respect, and amazement you feel when facing something extraordinary.

When you're in awe of someone, you deeply admire what they can do. A young musician might be in awe of a master pianist. An aspiring scientist might feel awe reading about Marie Curie's discoveries. That sense of amazement can inspire us to reach higher ourselves.