I am old enough to remember the very first moon landing and being fascinated by Neil Armstrong and the astronauts who took those first human steps on the moon. I imagined what it must have been like to overcome the fear, the great unknown and to see Earth from space. Now THAT mist have been amazing.
Fast forward 40 years or so and space travel is kinda ho hum to a lot of people. It’s a blase topic and I am surprised by that transformation in such a short time span. There are so many other distractions and, it seems, so many people want things right now, they are impatient and frustrated if they have to wait. I am reminded of a famous line by Homer Simpson ” Forty seconds, but I want it now” he whined when told his food would be ready in 40 seconds. Drive through counters for fast food conveniently means we don’t even have to step out of our cars now. Progress?
The full moon rose in a sky free of clouds. Moon shadows, rare to see, were cast by the illumination of that big beautiful orb up in the sky. I sat and watched as the moon slowly made it’s way higher and higher into the sky. Several hours later this same brightly shining moon was in a completely different angle in the sky but was it really?
Commander Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut extraordinaire, recently returned to Earth after a five month mission in space aboard the International Space Station. Social media was set up to allow him to share parts of his experience with the world and share he did.
Epic sharing, pictures, songs, stories…did you know that he saw 16 sunrises and sunsets everyday? Everyday folks! That’s the thing about orbits, you’re constantly on the move even if it doesn’t feel like it. From down here, on terra firma, solid ground, held down by gravity, it may seem like the sun and the moon move not the Earth. It doesn’t feel like we’re spinning and yet we are, ever so slowly, around the sun every 24 hours…
Life in perspective my friends: take the time to take time. Stop to enjoy a moon rise, a sunset, a deep conversation with someone, anyone.
Slow it down my friends, slow it down. Life is not about doing “stuff” it’s about “being present” in all that you do. And, if you get the chance, go watch the youtube video called SpaceJam with Chris Hadfield and Ed Robertson who created the song “Is Somebody Singing?” Epic, that’s all I’m saying.
1 comment
I too am old enough to remember the Apollo years. The thrill of space travel has never worn off. but i think it’s because I have not allows the glow to fade. As Janet is advising, take time to notice, really notice, just how cool things are!