Helen, 54, is a marketing executive based in London. Her older sister, Margaret, 57, a recently retired teacher, had flown to Umbria, Italy, for a short solo holiday.
The two sisters are close and check in often—but nothing prepared Helen for the emotional phone call she received that afternoon.
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| For illustration purposes only |
Helen was at work, in the middle of a hectic city day, when the call came through.
It was her sister, Margaret, calling from Umbria, Italy—a place she often visited for its slow charm and breathtaking beauty.
Helen answered with a concerned, “Margaret? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
All she could hear was her sister’s sobs.
“Margaret, talk to me. What’s happening?”
“She was crying—barely able to catch her breath,” Helen said.
“I panicked. I kept asking, ‘What’s wrong? Are you hurt?’ I was already mentally checking where my passport was.”
On the other end of the line, her sister tried to speak through tears.
Finally, after Helen asked for the hundredth time, the truth spilled out.
“This country is so beautiful,” her sister said between sobs. “It takes my breath away.”
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| For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels |
Helen was stunned. “She’s not someone who cries easily,” she explained. “But Italy did something to her. It reached her soul.”
What Margaret was feeling is called awe. It’s that strong, wonderful feeling people get when they see something very beautiful or big—like nature, art, or a special moment.
According to sources, awe makes people feel happier, less stressed, and more connected to the world.
When someone feels awe, they often feel small but in a good way—like they are part of something much bigger. For Margaret, looking at the peaceful hills of Umbria, this feeling was so powerful it made her cry with joy.
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| For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels |
The two sisters sat quietly on the phone for a moment—one standing in a noisy office tower, the other overlooking the rolling hills of Umbria. No more words were needed.
“From what I hear,” Helen added, “You have views in Italy that make grown women weep.”
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| For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels |
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This story is based on a true experience, with names changed to protect privacy.
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