Pale Blue Dot

Lost in darkness among the stars

Proportions of size unimaginable and time inconceivable

Violently suspended in an ocean of black

Blissfully living in the midst of a miracle

Attendance in a show of chance

We live out our blink on autopilot

Creative beauty in every direction but where we find our gaze resting

Little gods egotistically shaking our fists at invisible fate

Blinded to the reality of rinse and repeat

Humility should fill at the revelation of size

The disproportions of dreams and reality

Our blip is a rare commodity often sold to lowly desires

I long for new eyes to see perspective

Turning back for one last glance before venturing into new frontiers, the Voyager 1 space probe captured it’s last photo of earth on the 14th of February 1990 from 6 billion kilometers away. A romantic but surreal Valentines card that contains an image of a pale blue dot that represents all of what we’ve ever known in the size less than a pixel. We are so small and vulnerable. So flawed and fleeting, but it’s exactly that which makes us so special and precious. The dramas that play out on our blue pixel are real to us. Love, heart break, the smile of a child, all seem to transcend what should be inconsequential 6 billion kilometers away.

I wrote the above piece years ago when I was feeling really down and alone. It served then as an allegory and outlet for those feelings, but now in hindsight serves more to stir gratitude for gained perspective of an ever winding journey.

What do you see besides just a pale blue dot? How do you want to live out your fleeting existence? So many of my days are spent on autopilot. I hope to treasure more moments more constantly. In a cosmic blink it will all be over, so soak up every second of this magic.       

*Image courtesy of Nasa.gov