Happy New Year! I’m not sure how you feel about it, but I’m happy to see the back of 2025. This year just feels like it has more to offer and, with a clean slate, more opportunities. Regardless of how you choose to observe this newly-arrived year, I’d like to suggest that you experience some awe today.
Sure, there are plenty of ways to do that, but I find that Nature provides almost endless possibilities to find yourself awestruck by her wonders. Take, for example, this fabulous creature, the Giraffe-Necked Weevil. Found in Madagascar, it’s unlikely that most of us will ever see one in real life…but knowing they’re out there, fighting their long-necked battles and meticulously creating those specialized leaf “cocoons” for their single eggs, is enough, isn’t it? The linked video from BBC is a must-watch.
Are you wondering if such a specialized insect, located in only one small place, runs the risk of extirpation? The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ lists Trachelophorus giraffa as “Near Threatened”, based on its most recent assessment (December 2020). Risks to the weevil were identified in the report as mostly related to human-caused habitat destruction as well as the potential for illegal trafficking due to its uniqueness and beauty.
I hope that 2026 brings you more opportunities for awe, for appreciating the wonders all around us, and for committing to preserving Nature for all creatures to enjoy, especially those who live there.
Learn more about the importance of awe in our lives, including its health benefits, in this Psychology Today article.