No experience I've had is more fascinating than the simple act of looking up at the stars. Hidden in that beauty is the underlying reminder that, however wrapped up in our everyday lives we get, there is an entire universe out there.
The cosmos are constantly changing, constantly expanding. Undiscovered planets are out there whose skies rain diamonds, or whose entire composition is a collection of different liquids or gasses. Some are light years away, so far that they will remain untouched for centuries, perhaps even millennia.
Planets, for example, that burn, freeze, and erupt. And on top of these planets there exist stars that die only to be born again. And yet, through this terrifying beauty, one thing is a fact: we are a part of this universe. No matter how intense and chaotic the cosmos are, we exist inside it whether we like it or not.
From this reality, I believe, a strange and somber feeling of comfort overcomes us. It is comfortable, and almost encouraging, to know that as chaos envelops the galaxy, we still exist; we persist onward.
A reality that is even more astounding is the individual: namely, you. You are still here. Whether you buy into the monotheistic model of God, or the seemingly more natural and tribal belief in many gods, this simple act of stargazing reminds us of our primary purpose: to live. And by living our lives, we take part in the writing of human history. We are the authors of our own lives, which allows us to etch our story unto the galaxy.
Mankind has aimed for the stars for eons. The cosmos were seen as the throne of deities, and the resting place of the great celestial orbs. And even though our understanding of the universe in which we exist has greatly expanded, we cannot help but retain the feeling of insignificance compared to everything going on in the universe.
Humanity, though intelligent, is neither the epitome of material existence nor should be viewed as such. The Universe ought to not be organized according to some hierarchy of beings; rather, the Universe is a clock, with a large collection of parts that have a specific purpose. And while we could view this in a negative way, I urge you to see it as an invitation to be free.
It is in our hands to do as we wish. Jean Paul Sartre once said, “Everything has been figured out, except how to live.” Our purpose is to continue living and asking questions such as, “What does it mean to be human?” and “How do I as a person define humanity as a whole?” The only way we can do this is by choosing our own path, which will in turn cause us to be successful in making a contribution to the anthology of human experience. I implore you, the reader, to act with courage and without hesitation, to make your contribution to humanity as interesting as possible.