Wonderseeker Emotions
Harmony
HARMONY is, for me, the most beautiful feeling of all. It’s very hard to find, but when no one disturbs you before you go to sleep, you feel a wonderful sense of deep peace.
HARMONY and mental balance mean the ability to accept your own emotions without judging yourself. It’s that physical well-being you feel when your body steps out of a state of constant stress. HARMONY can’t be forced; it doesn’t just switch on at the command: “I want harmony”—it doesn’t work that way, no. True HARMONY arises on its own, when you’re calm, when you know everything is fine, or when you don’t have to do anything tomorrow because it’s a very boring weekend. I don’t tie my emotions to any particular place, but only when I’m alone, or when I’m with one of my friends: these are the moments when I’m able to link places to emotions. If I’m alone, it’s difficult, but if I’m with someone, we 100% create stories that make me think and smile.
Z. M.-2^E-Liceo Scientifico Statale “A. Scacchi” of Bari
Harmony
The Chapel of Saint Marie du Rosaire is Henri Matisse’s final work, born from the artist’s encounter with illness and his ability to transform it into creativity—thanks in part to the care and friendship of the convent’s nun and nurse, Maria. The visit is a journey through light, recurring colors that shift with the sunlight, and increasingly pared-down, crisp, almost elementary forms that immerse the visitor in an intimate space and an undefined time in which one feels welcomed and protected. Matisse has already stripped his works of all detail, leaving only the essential elements capable of evoking and stirring emotions: the Madonna and Child, the Way of the Cross with its stations, and Saint Dominic with his sacredness.
The white of the drawn lines embraces the essential marks of black; there is nothing superfluous—everything has been conceived and designed by the artist—and yet everything seems inevitable and indispensable: lines, light, and silence converse with an almost musical simplicity. It is a place where art does not fill the space, but animates it and endows it with incredible HARMONY.
Vanja
Enthusiasm
For me, ENTHUSIASM is that feeling of strong motivation, energy, and a desire to take action. When I’m enthusiastic, I feel motivated, curious, and ready to challenge myself. ENTHUSIASM makes everything easier and help us not to give up when faced with difficulties. I think it’s a very important emotion because it drives us to pursue our dreams and give it our all.
One experience that made me feel ENTHUSIASM was when I took up some new hobbies. At first, I was excited and couldn’t wait to learn something new. Every small improvement made me happy and gave me even more motivation to keep going. Thanks to that experience, I realized that ENTHUSIASM can help us grow and face challenges with a smile
A. A. J.-2^D-Liceo Scientifico Statale “A. Scacchi” of Bari
Astonishment
For me, ASTONISHMENT is a moment that embodies the feeling of joy and surprise after seeing something beautiful—a moment that brings with it a sense of warmth, a positive moment filled with golden happiness.
I felt this emotion when I flew on an airplane for the first time in my life: it was the moment I saw that the plane was flying over the ocean. I felt so surprised and at peace seeing the ocean from so high up: the color of the water was a beautiful, deep blue that touched my soul. It’s my favorite color because it gives me the feeling of staying kind and positive even when there are so many reasons not to be.
The reason I chose this emotion isn’t just about describing something, but also about sharing my experience—how I felt in that moment when I saw the ocean. Personally, I like to think of myself as an observer: whenever I experience little moments like these, my mind stops racing, and I observe things deeply, in complete tranquility.
H. W.-2^B-Liceo Scientifico Statale “A. Scacchi” of Bari
Grace
For me, GRACE is a profound emotion: it’s the ability to understand the value of what we have and to live in harmony with the world. This feeling arises within me when I look at my life. I know that there are many children in the world who struggle every day, who don’t have enough food or new clothes. But my deepest reflection comes when I think about my parents. They’ve had a much harder life than I have: they started working while they were still in middle school and struggled immensely. Today, thanks to all their sacrifices, they’ve given me a beautiful, peaceful life. I don’t have to work, I always have enough to eat, and they buy me whatever I need.
Compared to them and to those who suffer around the world, I feel truly lucky. For me, GRACE is exactly this: a deep gratitude for my parents’ hard work, as they struggle every day to give me opportunities they never had.
A. M. P.-2^D-Liceo Scientifico Statale “A. Scacchi” of Bari
Serenity
The word SERENITY is often associated with tranquility, lightheartedness, and the absence of worries. Reflecting on its meaning, however, I realized that for me, SERENITY does not necessarily mean the absence of difficulties, but rather the awareness that I have people by my side who can make even those challenges, which I would struggle to face on my own, feel lighter.
My SERENITY, in fact, is embodied above all by the people who are part of my life. I think of my mom, who listens to my thoughts every day, even when they’re confused and tangled and manages, through her words and advice, to help me sort them out. I think of my father, of his daily sacrifices, and of how, through his dedication, he allows us to live with greater ease and with deep gratitude for what we have. I think of my brother, my closest confidant, who brings me serenity simply by reminding me, through his presence, that I will never truly be alone in life.
SERENITY also has the face of my boyfriend, who every day makes me grateful for the person I’ve chosen to have by my side and for the goodness he brings into my life. It has the faces of my friends and family, with whom I share moments, experiences, and memories that become precious precisely because we’ve lived them together.
That’s why today I believe that SERENITY isn’t necessarily a permanent state, nor is it something we can build entirely on our own. It’s also the result of the loving environment in which we choose to live—and are fortunate enough to live. Knowing that we can count on someone, feeling heard, understood, and loved allows us to face difficulties from a different perspective.
My SERENITY, therefore, comes from the awareness that I am surrounded by people who represent a source of safety and love for me. It’s a feeling I recognize in the little things of everyday life, in shared moments, and in the certainty of having someone by my side. And it is precisely this that makes me realize how, deep down, our moods do not depend solely on us, but also on the relationships we build and the people we choose to have in our lives. For me, SERENITY means knowing that I’m not alone.
L.P. -Scienze della formazione primaria, Uniba
Quiet
The feeling of QUIET reminds me of when my school friends and I decided to get together at a friend’s house to spend some time together. It was afternoon, and there wasn’t much noise—just the sounds we were making.
During the evening, we did all sorts of things, including playing video games and sharing a few snacks. The first thing we did was have a break in the living room, eating our favorite things, like potato chips and plum cakes. Afterward, we split into several groups to play our favorite game on the console—the multiplayer mode—and in the end, my team won by a narrow margin. By then, quite a bit of time had passed and we were tired, so we sat down to watch a popular Asian digitally animated movie. During the movie, while the others were watching, I began to reflect deeply on this evening with my friends, noticing the calm, familiar atmosphere that evoked a sense of QUIET in me and in all of us. In the end, we said our goodbyes and all went home, taking that feeling with us.
N. I.-1^D-Liceo Scientifico Statale “A. Scacchi” of Bari
Yearning
I still remember clearly when I felt that YEARNING—I mean last year, when I set out on my pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the first time in my life. Sometimes, when I think back on that last year’s trip, my heart swells and I still feel a little down: the only way to describe it is profound, unique, and at times YEARNING. That spiritual experience changed me profoundly: the beauty of Mecca is indescribable.
When I saw the majestic Ka’ba, with its black curtain and golden embroidery, my breath was taken away: it stood at the center of the Grand Mosque and left me speechless. Walking on the white marble, among millions of brothers and sisters from all over the world, instilled in me a strong sense of humility—of belonging to something greater than myself, that is, of feeling part of a broader humanity. In that sacred place, amid the intense light and the sound of prayers, I experienced a mix of emotions that I will never forget. On the one hand, I felt small in the face of God’s greatness; on the other, I felt a sincere hope I had never known before and an inner peace that made me feel whole.
And so, my initial shyness vanished, and I felt protected, welcomed, and—for once—confident in myself. The tears streaming down my face were not tears of sadness, but of gratitude, relief, and spiritual rebirth. I was awestruck by the wonder I felt at seeing so many different cultures united in that place by the same love and the same faith—it’s an emotion I cannot put into words. The true beauty of Mecca lies not only in the marvelous architecture of the Ka’ba, but in its deep significance, so special that it fills the heart of every Muslim with joy and serenity. Every step, every movement, made me feel part of something immense, something infinite. The combination of joy and serenity I experienced around the Ka’ba has forever changed the way I live my faith and my life. That journey was a unique experience that left a deep mark on my soul and that I will always carry with me, like a light guiding me into the future.
S. A. H.-3^E-Liceo Scientifico Statale “A. Scacchi” of Bari
