I recently gifted the book Phosphorescence by Julia Baird to a friend. Three years ago, I read this part-memoir, part-motivational book and it has stayed with me. I think fondly on its parcels of wisdom. I adore natural science so I was also sold by the title which is phenomena that occurs in special animals and plants that are lit from within. A miraculous biological feat. The subtitle also drew me in: on awe, wonder and things that sustain you when the world goes dark.
When I read this glorious book, it was 2020, the year the world as we knew it stopped and metaphorically ‘went dark’. Despite this, the book had already been written by Julia Baird and her darkness came from reoccurring life-threatening diagnoses despite treatments, showing that every person’s version of darkness could arrive at any day, even before the ‘new normal’ of 2020. Julia is an Australian journalist and media presenter and a Doctor of Philosophy (I respect women who commit years to ‘the letters’ to prove a single theory with novel research). Julia Baird is one of my idols.
I connected to Julia’s warm and encouraging memoir because ‘adulting’ is hard no matter how fortunate you consider your life to be. Several years on and the memories of this book glow endearingly in my mind. Julia’s writing makes me sigh with deep satisfaction.
Here are my book highlights to tempt you to journey with Julia through her life where at her lowest of lows (more than once) she saw the natural glow of things when she wasn’t even looking, urging us to seek our own guiding light.
AWE, WONDER AND SUSTAINMENT
Returning to that alluring subtitle, on awe, wonder and things that sustain you when the world goes dark. I’ll admit I’ve been an awe-seeker for years. I even co-created a free phone app (now retired) to help people find their version of awe in unfamiliar places. What cannot be understated is that I value awe so much (maybe a little too much) that I spent several years helping people find awe too. My awe-seeking app was a modern tool for a modern malady. The reality of modern life and its busyness is we have less time for multi-sensory experiences that trigger all our senses where our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin and its hairs (think goosebump reaction) are stimulated simultaneously in complex ways. The result can be awe-inspiring. When we do have free time we cram peak experiences into daily life, such as through novel events like an exquisitely prepared chef’s meal or a live performance.
It’s why when we travel, especially to unfamiliar far-flung places, we strike feelings of awe at a higher hit rate. It’s why travel can be addictive. Why upon return we get the post-holiday blues. Awe-seeking is addictively pleasurable. No consumption of stimulants is required. Going to an unexplored destination to seek awe does not guarantee finding it to outweigh the inconveniences and vigilance caused by the unfamiliar. It can be as heart-sinking and energy-depleting in the opposite direction when awe eludes the traveller and why awe is so highly valued for its mysteriousness.
LIVE FULLY TODAY
Julia’s gorgeously written book reminds us that awe has always been there for us to access, in all kinds of places, not just in faraway exotic places. Live for today even if the calendar says it is highly likely to be mind-numbing routine and drudgery, she nudges you to look closer (and to use all your senses) quoting C.S.Lewis,
“Behind every earthly law is a deeper magic that defies logic…a moment of grace. That this grace fuels galaxies...”
Back to 2020, it was only once our opportunities to find awe were restricted that we appreciated what it truly means to live an ‘awesome’ life. We were sensorily dimmed. Many of us realised were taking much for granted. The unprecedented restrictions to living a normal life were a wakeup call. A call to live for today. That a little sensory enrichment scheduled every day is more fulfilling than waiting for annual leave. If you look up synonyms to ‘work’ you will find; toil, slog and grind. I can see why Julia’s advice is so valuable.
“First, pay attention.
Second, do not underestimate the soothing power of the ordinary.
Third, seek awe, and nature, daily.
Fourth… well, so many things: show kindness, practice grace, eschew vanity; be bold; embrace friends, family, faith, and doubt, imperfection and mess; and live deliberately.”
THE GLOW OF YOUR ASTONISHING SPIRIT
The book is well structured and easy to devour. I was often declaring in my head ‘yes!’ or ‘wow!’ as I read Julia’s reasons to expect more from life’s simple moments, with exceptional world-class experts encouraging us with their life’s work. Once I reached ‘book-ending regret’ I had so many extraordinary references to continue to explore.
With words like ‘incandescence’ and ‘luminescent’ summoning vivid imagery I was happy to revel in its pages. The prose was accessible, and admirably both poetic and informative. Julia’s shared learnings do not weigh you down but may set you alight, whether you envision that like a flying firefly or a swimming angler fish. Warning: This book may help you to glow.
I learned new words; ‘ert’, ‘schadenfreude’, ‘freudenfreude’ and ‘mudita’, and the few quoted poems set throughout rested my eyes with white space. Their turn of phrase changed the rhythm as a respite before greedily reading more of Julia’s well-researched insights.
I couldn’t help but smile at the chapter title, ‘Lessons from a cuttlefish’ as I’m a lifelong nature lover. I have always been drawn to the natural world, even my teenage choice of tertiary education was to learn more about the natural world. Julia was speaking to my heart by entwining the rare natural phenomena of luminescence with her dogma. We are soul sisters (in my humblest of opinions).
With book sections like ‘we are all wriggly - why we need to tell our imperfect stories’ and ‘honouring the temporary’ and ‘burning bright: candy royalle’ I was enthralled and greedy for more of Julia’s story.
In Chapter 11: Letter to a young woman, Julia’s wisdom to her daughter touched me who as a girl I could have dearly used her as a godmother. There is something in this chapter for every age of woman and mixes some musings with the serious, “Remember Stalin (good looks can deceive)” alongside “Dare…Be fair…Don’t let the world crush your astonishing spirit” there is so much to revel in and mull over, no matter your time in life.
In Chapter 17: Thoughts for my son - the art of savouring, Julia’s tips are just as relevant to anyone, not only boys. Almost three dozen wise wishes, the amusing sits side-by-side with the solemn (a bit like life), “carefully collect the goodhearted like shells on the beach” and “to not waste a second on the leers of cynics or the jibes of hateful people”. Hear, Hear!
BE MORE SEA CREATURE
Towards the end of the book, there is an underwater snap of the author with a mysterious and large creature. The publisher honoured the author’s need for more than text (in the days of cut-throat book printing efficiencies). This touch is icing on the cake for the reader. The hardcover has matte textured paper and silver letter imprints. Microscopic shapes decorate an ink-sea background. The inside covers are photos of luminescent sea creatures.
I was awe-struck that three quarters of all sea creatures have bioluminescence capability. Put another way, most sea creatures can glow. It seems so unnecessary, but nature is not flippant. It was during Julia’s pastime of open sea swimming off Australia's coast where she experienced a sea within a sea of bioluminescent algae, simple single-celled plants – nature is amazing!)
“Just a few metres out from the shore the sparkles appeared. I was transfixed. My fingers throughout fistfuls of sequins with every stroke. A galaxy of stars flew past my goggles.”
Phosphorescence by Julia Baird is one of my favourite non-fiction books since 2020. I smiled in delight, I cried in relief, I was awed. I thank Julia for the inspiration,
“We must love. And we must look outwards and upwards at all times, caring for others, seeking wonder, and stalking awe, every day, to find the magic that will sustain us and fuel the light within - our own phosphorescence.”
(Images by: George Hodan 'Jellyfish' www.publicdomainpictures.net. By Rod Lucier 'Firefly8' 2012, and by slworking2 'Glow Rock: Bioluminescent Tide in La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA, 2020.' Flikr.com)