Wonder Gatherings was inspired by my lived experience as a caregiver, mother, and as a recipient of a social prescription in the early days following the combined passing of my mother and my husband when my children were just two weeks and two years old. In my bereaved and postpartum state, I never imagined I would be able to feel joy and wonder. Despite my mourning, I prioritized playing with my two-year-old son. We played through our grief together and discovered wonder. A testament to his childlike curiosity, openness, and abundant love, my son’s wonder was contagious. I got lost in time and space as we engaged in art, make-believe, and odd creations.

I was in awe of how twenty minutes of playtime lifted me out of grief and how my son’s wonder spawned more wonder in me. I began to see awe in the everyday people, places, and things I encountered.

Wonder opened me back up to the beauty in the world, to the beauty in people. I started writing music again and collaborating with friends online. I founded Ode to Wonder, which started off as a place (blog) where I would write about the wonders I encountered.

Years later, I did a TEDx, ‘Why Wonder is the Bridge to Healing Stigma,’ to advocate for social change and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Sensing there was more work to be done within organizations, I became a Canadian Mental Health Association Advisor for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.

When a close friend shared that she could never feel truly psychologically safe at work because she couldn’t show up as her true authentic self, I started envisioning ways to facilitate genuine connections between colleagues.

I founded Wonder Gatherings as a platform for people to authentically connect with their peers, whether neighbors, colleagues, classmates, or strangers, by sharing their unique perspectives and wonders.

Following my talk at the Collision Conference, where I joined Tami Bhaumik, Vice President of Marketing & Digital Civility for Roblox, on a discussion surrounding the ‘Power of Play’, I organized my inaugural pop-up gathering for female entrepreneurs, sponsored by TechStars. Discussions centered on personal experiences rather than professional titles, with a penalty for breaking the rule of 10 burpees.

Through subsequent gatherings, I observed firsthand how wonder acts as a catalyst for genuine connections, affirming my TEDx hypothesis. Witnessing individuals move colleagues to tears with their heartfelt wonders, I realized the profound impact of these shared moments in fostering understanding and a deeper sense of connection.

Driven by curiosity, I embarked on a journey to unravel the science behind the profound connection fostered by wonder and the arts. Amidst the pandemic, I seized the opportunity to pursue virtual studies, earning a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Under the mentorship of esteemed figures like Dr. Martin Seligman, co-founder of Positive Psychology, and Dr. James Pawelski, I delved into my final capstone paper, 'Art, Wisdom, and Wonder: Designing Pathways for Art Museum Social Prescriptions to Combat Loneliness and Enhance Well-being.' My academic pursuit deepened my understanding of the transformative potential of wonder and creativity in promoting social bonding and connection.

After lecturing on Music and Well-being at Kwantlen University and hosting a Music and Wonder Gathering, I presented at a symposium at the World Congress of International Positive Psychology Association on art-based social prescriptions to buffer loneliness and enhance well-being. The research I presented coincided with a discovery about a song I wrote 20 years ago, which had been deemed lost. This discovery aligned with a community's use of music to foster social connection, as thousands searched for the song's original author — me. Following a feature in Rolling Stone magazine, I received messages from hundreds of people worldwide who discovered me as the songwriter behind the song, ‘How Long (Will it Take)’.

Amid feelings of awe, many shared their struggles and found solace in the HLWIT subreddit community, forming genuine connections and friendships while searching for the song. Unbeknownst to me, as I researched ways to combat loneliness, they were using my song to connect socially, illustrating the unexpected power of music in fostering community.

My song raised $1,000 on Bandcamp in just 3 weeks, and 100 percent of the proceeds were donated to Music Heals to fund music therapy programs for youth and bereavement camps.

I'm privileged to continue hosting Wonder Gatherings and now Music and Wonder Gatherings, in collaboration with my friend and fellow UPenn Master of Applied Positive Psychology alumni, Tricia Fox Ransom. Rooted in evidence-based practices and Positive Psychology and the Positive Humanities, our gatherings offer a platform for individuals to share their wonders authentically. Witnessing these moments of connection is like witnessing art in motion—a truly beautiful experience. I feel fortunate to facilitate genuine social bonding and empower others to find belonging through the transformative power of wonder. In my journey, wonder served as a bridge to healing, compassion, and connection, and now, I'm dedicated to helping others harness its potential to cultivate a sense of belonging and connection with others.