In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live. His epic story of survival has never felt more relevant than as we live through the COVID-19 pandemic together.
Enter his newest book…In Awe. John invites us to return to the joy of navigating life like a child. He identifies the five senses children innately possess, explains why those senses fade, and shares emotional, humorous and inspirational stories of how we can return to them.
There was a time when we once joyfully raised our hand high to answer every question, connected more easily with others around us, believed that anything was possible and fearlessly jumped into new experiences; when we experienced our days, not as something to endure, but as a marvelous gift to absorb and savor; when we danced through our days “in awe” of the ordinary moments of the day and eager for the promise of tomorrow.
Unfortunately, many of us experience life very differently today. The pace of change has never been so rapid, and it will never be this slow again. With engagement in our professional organizations waning and burnout rising, many of us find ourselves caught in a life of dogged responsibility and mind-numbing repetition, causing us to feel disconnected and burned out. Social media reminds us we don’t measure up, and mainstream media barrages us with constant negativity. The years of test-taking, relentless striving toward someone else’s goals, and the daily struggle to earn a living, have caused us to lose the sense of wonder that we once awoke with every day.
In Awe specifically identifies the most substantial challenges readers face in living more fully. It then calls out the cause of those challenges, while providing practical and inspired solutions to address them.
Strengthened by the past and empowered for the future, John will show us how to seek fresh insights, reach for new solutions and live our best lives.
