How do you stay connected with curiosity and awe?

I suspect most researchers experience ups and downs. I periodically find myself disconnected from curiosity and awe and I need to find that compass again. (Writing a book like I’m doing now is arguably an overindulgence there).

I worry that researchers are globally a bit disconnected from it, coming out of the pandemic coupled with increasing pressures to produce.

One impression I have is that the special swath of researchers who inhabit this furry elephant are particularly in touch with curiosity and awe.

How do y’all stay connected to it? 

 @8599d6ab I also have ups and downs. Recently I've been trying to let go of things that are "good for my career" to focus on things I actually care about. It feels good, although I worry about the long term effect on my career of course.