(NASA's image Earthset from Artemis 2. All credit to NASA. Original link: https://www.nasa.gov/image-detail/art002e009288/)

This is Johanna Rothman’s April 2026 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter.

While the global politics continue to maintain our never-ending chaos, something wonderful happened this week: Artemis II's mission and the amazing images they sent back to us. (For all the images, go to this link and ooh and aah yourself: https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/lunar-flyby/.)

If you live in slightly warmer climes than my Boston, you might have local wonder, too. I bet the trees are budding, the crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and all manner of reawakenings are happening. I have to wait a few more weeks for that.

I bet some of your family, friends, and colleagues also have wonder in their lives. You might be able to ask them to share some of that wonder with you.

I can't do anything directly about the chaos. I can protest, write emails, call my politicians—and I do. That's all indirect action.

And while I can't do anything about the wonder in our lives, I can appreciate it.

That wonder requires a purposeful stance. Instead of drowning in Chaos, we can choose wonder. I'm especially grateful for that wonder this week. Because I think we need more wonder this week.

When Can We Choose Wonder?

Sometimes, Chaos calls to me over wonder. That happens when the news is especially bad. This week, the global news was full of Chaos, and I'm not sure how that ends.

However, we can choose how to react. I refuse to drown in Chaos. Doom is not good for my mental or emotional health—and it's not good for you, either.

Instead, when news is bad, we can choose wonder.

This week was especially good for wonder. Artemis II, the harbingers of spring. I am personally lucky enough to enjoy the wonder of a family with grandchildren. No, I won't share pictures of them, but they are the most adorable, brilliant, and insightful children ever born. (I claim grandparent privileges to say that!)

But here's the reason I love the wonder of Artemis II: When I was eight or nine, I read a book by Robert Silverberg: The Lost Race of Mars. (My Amazon affiliate link.) That book started my love of (optimistic) science fiction. And allowed me to wonder about the stars, other beings, and my place in the universe. Just as Artemis II has this week.

That's why I still love optimistic science fiction. I get a sense of wonder every time I read it.

Wonder helps me ease the impact of Chaos when I can't do something directly about the Chaos. That's why I recommend and choose wonder.

How Can We Choose Wonder?

If you, as I, have felt overwhelmed by this week's Chaos, here are some options that work for me:

• Ask yourself if drowning in chaos is something you must do. Sometimes, I do check news sources or read something that helps me make sense of the world. I often timebox that checking. If I don't limit that time, I tend to spiral down into things I cannot control.
• Find a way to get out of the house, especially into some form of nature. I live in a neighborhood with too few sidewalks. However, it also has few cars, so my rollator and I can take a walk. If it's too cold for a walk, I can look out the window and see trees.
• Consciously choose an alternate focus. I find this the most challenging option. Even if I don't want to spiral into Chaos, I feel the pull of Chaos. I tend to write to find that alternate focus. You might choose to read. Or listen to music that interrupts the spiraling.

We have choices. And when we feel as if we are drowning in Chaos, we must exercise those choices. You will probably choose something other than I do. That's great.

Let's choose Wonder, even—or especially—when we are in Chaos. That will help us regain our emotional balance and choose again.

Announcements…

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Till next time,
Johanna

© 2026 Johanna Rothman