Look Up

What a shame that we can’t see the stars.

On an average night in this big city.

Light drowns out the universe.

We block out our surroundings.

And all that’s left is what’s right in front of us.

Busy streets, screens, sirens.

Neverending requests on our attention. 

To cope, we develop this kind of hermit crab mentality.

We become locked up in our own little worlds.

We fall into the trap of believing that everything happening to us is so important.

That any second our lives will be ruined by something stupid we said or did.

But then, every so often…

We’ll hop in a car or a plane.

We’ll go outside of the city.

Away from all the lights, the noise, the distraction.

And we’ll witness the miracle of existence.

We’ll see it for ourselves.

200 billion galaxies above us.

The vastness of it all makes us feel small.

Humbled.

A lot like our ancestors must have felt.

The starry night sky reminds us that we aren’t the center of the universe.

That nothing in our day-to-day lives is that big of a big deal.

That, thankfully, the world doesn’t rest on our shoulders.

That’s why need to see the stars.

To experience awe.

To remember what really matters.

Too long without astonishment and our perspective shrinks.

We become slaves to the chaos of a busy life.

We come to think that we are more important than we are.

Humility and peace arise from removing ourselves from the “world.”

So we can experience the universe beyond.

Even for just one night.

Where you can look up.

Wide-eyed.

Take a breath of fresh air.

Realizing simultaneously… 

Nothing is that important.

And yet, everything is.