Childhood and old age: the two vital moments in which everything surprises us the most

BarcelonaSeeing a shooting star, watching a butterfly flutter its wings, blowing bubbles, boarding a boat... When we're young, many things surprise us. Each first experience is unique and unrepeatable, and our capacity for wonder and fascination seems endless. The problem is that, as we grow older, this capacity atrophies, as if we've run out of that "surprise reservoir" with which we once came into the world. And no one teaches us how and where we can refill it.

All this is discussed in the book. Growing in wonder (Plataforma Editorial, 2025), written by Miguel Salas, professor and doctor in literary theory and comparative literature, in which he aims to rediscover and educate this capacity for surprise in order to reconnect with the beauty and mystery of the world," explains Sala.

We may be surprised by something large, like the ocean, but also by other small elements, like a leaf or an insect, through which we realize the perfect functioning of nature. In any case, the feeling of surprise "is an emotion that comes over us, that we cannot control, and that reveals the true nature of something, leaving us so perplexed that we have to adjust or modify our perception of life," Salas explains.

The benefits of letting yourself be surprised

The curious thing, according to the author, is that several studies show that the act of surprise has two golden ages: childhood and old age. "This rules out the possibility that surprise can only occur thanks to new situations, but also in the sense of being able to perceive what surrounds us as something new," he clarifies. "During old age, we reevaluate our lives and, suddenly, we make an effort to stop and see things in a new light," Salas continues.

The thing is, between childhood and old age, we are immersed in a fast-paced world with routines that distance us from this element of surprise. Not only that, but due to new technologies, we arrive earlier and earlier, and it's harder to escape from it. A shame, considering that being surprised brings many benefits. From a physical perspective, Salas asserts that surprise is beneficial for reducing inflammation and promoting physical calm. Regarding mental health, Salas explains that surprise is good for stress management because it requires a certain calm, observation, and silence. "To see the true nature of what surrounds us, whether through art, music, or nature, we need time to stop and slow down," he continues. Furthermore, the author also believes that surprise is an emotion closely related to spiritual certainty: "These are moments in which we understand the meaning of existence or what we do. They are spaces of gratitude, joy, and living life constructively," he emphasizes.

Knowing how to see and look

Surprise is also related to concentration and the ability to learn positively. For all these reasons, Salas believes it is important to "educate in surprise." To do this, we must keep in mind that surprise involves four movements: "Two of them have to do with seeing, and two with looking," he explains. We can't force ourselves to be surprised by something, nor can we choose it. "If we don't surprise ourselves, we won't be able to see ourselves in that light," he continues.

The moments that have to do with looking are those of preparation and confirmation: "We can prepare ourselves to be surprised and make its effect last," says Salas, who asserts that this is achieved if we stop and open all our senses to the world. "We must abandon this vicarious way of living in which we always exist through a screen, because the surprise will always be direct," he explains.

There are different paths that can lead us to surprise: nature and the arts are a constant source of surprise and learning. And, in fact, according to Salas, all these paths return us to Plato and his myth of the cave. "There is the light that comes from the outside world and that illuminates the figures on the walls. Surprise is like a ray of that light that allows us to see all of its most transcendent nature," he gives as an example. For the author, we must always try to find that connection between everyday life and transcendence, and this is achieved through an exercise in silence, slowness, gratitude, and even solitude. "It's like cleaning the windows in your house. If they're dirty, the sun can't get in, but if we've cleaned them, the sun, like surprise, will arrive at one moment or another," he concludes.