The eclipse was good for your health

A daily drip of awe can do wonders for the mind and body politic.

A former colleague of mine described watching the eclipse as a “brief moment of what it would be like if everyone was on half a Xanax.” For the uninitiated, he added, “It’s like a longer lasting chamomile tea.”

In other words, the total solar eclipse that crossed North America on April 8 chilled people out and warmed people up. Strangers became allies in awe as the moon passed in front of the sun, casting a metallic grey light onto the Earth. In an age of polarization, the eclipse ushered in unity. Sure, totality was just four minutes, but that collective feeling of wonder and appreciation can last longer if people nurture it. And if they do, science says awe promotes good mental health and prosocial behavior.

Awe (noun) : a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. (Oxford English Dictionary)

Awe “serves a vital social function,” according to a 2015 study published by the American Psychological Association. “By diminishing the emphasis on the individual self, awe may en…